Game Changer

Nov 7, 2025 by Rob

Lewis and Katya’s incredible Couple’s Choice routine to that re-worked version of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ felt like a complete game-changer in this series.

It thoroughly deserved 40, it received 40, and there’s a strong argument to be made for it being the best dance ever performed in the history of the show, even surpassing Jay and Aliona’s ‘Pulp Fiction’ jive, from back in 2015.

It was highly original, with such inspired choreo elements and story-telling power, you have to doff your cap to Katya’s sheer brilliance. It is something the audience will be desperate to see reprised in this year’s final, carrying a wow factor nothing else has got anywhere near, so far this year.

With all the good will it helps to generate, Lewis has put himself in a position to potentially emulate Kelvin Fletcher, and it is surprising he isn’t favourite to win the series. That position is still mysteriously held by George, currently trading at 2.02, despite him producing his second successive lacklustre fast Latin effort.

The judges used the word ‘plateaued’ and it hasn’t helped George’s cause that Alexis has delivered flawless technique in the last couple of weeks while exposing his technical deficiencies. Back in hold, wearing a tailsuit, performing a VW, at least looks safer territory for George to produce a competent effort tomorrow night.

It was an evening of bizarre scoring and comments that regularly didn’t tally with what you had just watched. Both La Voix and Alex seemed to enjoy lavish praise and scores not in keeping with their routines, as they ended up tied in third place with the pimp-slotted Amber, whose VW looked altogether superior but which Shirley scored down for it being more of an AS in her view.

Week 6 (Halloween Week) judges’ leaderboard:

Lewis and Katya: Couple’s Choice – (5) – 10, 10, 10, 10 = 40
Karen and Carlos: AT – (8) – 9, 10, 9, 10 = 38
La Voix and Aljaz: Paso – (4) – 8, 9, 9, 9 = 35
Alex and Johannes: Salsa – (9) – 8, 9, 9, 9 = 35
Amber and Nikita: VW – (10) – 9, 9, 8, 9 = 35
Vicky and Kai: AS – (1) – 7, 8, 8, 8 = 31
George and Alexis: CCC – (3) – 6, 7, 8, 8 = 29
Balvinder and Julian: Rumba – (6) – 7, 7, 7, 7 = 28 – bottom 2
Ellie and Vito: Tango – (2) – 6, 7, 7, 7 = 27 – eliminated
Harry and Karen: AS – (7) – 6, 7, 6, 7 = 26

This could be a worrying sign for Amber’s future in the competition. She now has the tricky salsa, following her week 2 samba being scored a miserly 29, and she is due an early r.o. slot. We know her pv has been low and it may be on the cards for her to end up in the dance-off again.

She may not be helped by Harry having samba which looks like playing to his fast Latin strengths, and Lewis having his first fast Latin routine since his week 1 jive. We know CCC is a tricky genre to master but on all known form, we have to expect him to pass this exam with flying colours.

Karen’s Peaky Blinders-themed AT allowed the judges to go to town talking up her comeback, and she gets another fleet-footed dance in Charleston which will play to her strengths as well. This might even come under consideration for a second pimp slot for Karen.

The transparent ‘get La Voix to Blackpool’ series-long narrative continued unashamedly last Saturday, and you have to presume it will be more of the same with her foxtrot, which is an Aljaz specialty.

It was left up to Balvinder to apply the killer punch to Ellie, during a third dance-off appearance by her, and it looks like TPTB are rewarding her by way of a CC routine that will be barefoot and showcase a mix of Bhangra and Bollywood.

Balvinder was installed odds-on favourite to be the sixth elimination at week start but her price has understandably drifted. It looks like the sort of routine that will be lauded and highly scored, and she might also be in the reckoning for a second pimp slot.

Vicky was hamstrung by opening the show last week with a very decent AS which, given what we saw happen later in the show, looked significantly underscored. The judges have continued to focus on her improvement, she’s looked good in training this week, but if they pull the rug out from under Vicky they could put her in danger of the dance-off.

How they choose to manage the leaderboard is going to be telling, pre-show there does look scope for a shock elimination, and Amber should probably be most scared.

Please do let us know who got your week 7 vote(s) when the exit poll opens at the end of tomorrow night’s show.

Strictly 2025 Exit Poll – Week 7

Week 7 – dances & songs:

George & Alexis – Viennese Waltz to “Somebody To Love” by Queen
Vicky & Kai – Tango to “The Fate Of Ophelia” by Taylor Swift
Balvinder & Julian- Couple’s Choice to “Sapphire” by Ed Sheeran & Arjit Singh
Harry & Karen- Samba to “Samba” by Gloria Estefan
Lewis & Katya- CCC to “I Like It Like That” by Pete Rodriguez
La Voix & Aljaz- Foxtrot to “Make Your Own Kind of Music” by Cass Elliott
Amber & Nikita- Salsa to “You Make Me Feel Mighty Real” by Sylvester
Alex & Johannes- Paso Doble to Jamie Texidor
Karen & Carlos- Charleston to “Think” by Aretha Franklin and “Upside Down” by Diana Ross