Every new professional dancer on Strictly wants to make a good early impression, and one of the easiest ways to do so is to receive a 10 from one (or more) of the judges.

So which Pro took the fewest number of routines to receive their first ever 10?

Big thanks to fellow “Strictly Statistician” James (Instagram: @drross365) for contributing this article to the StrictlyDB Blog.

Joint 9th quickest: Anya (with Patrick)

• Series 11 (2013) Week 7: 9th November 2013
• American Smooth
• It Had To Be You by Frank Sinatra
• Score 37 (9,10,9,9)
• 10 awarded by Darcey
• 7th Routine

It’s perhaps not surprising that an American Smooth, danced to a Frank Sinatra song, was picked to close the Week 7 show. Watching it back, it’s a lovely, ‘Hollywood glamour’ routine, certainly deserving of a high score. Does the slightly messy final lift stop it from being a 10 dance? Not in Darcey’s eyes, who placed the blame on Anya’s dress. The 10 was also a belated birthday gift to Patrick, who had turned 50 earlier in the week.

Joint 9th quickest: Pasha (with Chelsee)

• Series 9 (2011) Week 7: 12th November 2011
• Foxtrot
• Doesn’t Mean Anything by Alicia Keys
• Score 36 (9,8,10,9)
• 10 awarded by Alesha
• 7th Routine

Pasha ended up receiving a total of 93 tens during his time on Strictly, however do you remember the first that he received? Having received scores of 36 for both their Week 4 Quickstep and Week 6 Charleston, it was clear that the elusive 10 was just a matter of time for this partnership.  It finally occurred after an elegant Foxtrot in week 7.  Alesha was the judge to award it, saying that Chelsee was ‘the one to beat’.

Joint 9th quickest: Trent (with Pixie)

• Series 12 (2014) Week 7: 8th November 2014
• Foxtrot
• When I’m 64 by The Beatles
• Score 36 (9,10,8,9)
• 10 awarded by Darcey
• 7th Routine

Having received a total of nine 9s for their three previous ballroom routines, Trent & Pixie went on to receive their first 10 for a Week 7 Foxtrot.  The Foxtrot is not always the most exciting of dance styles seen on Strictly, but this routine has lovely choreography, was danced beautifully, and deserved to finish top of the leaderboard.

This partnership seemed destined to make the Series 12 Final, but were controversially eliminated in the Quarter-Final.  Are they the best partnership not to reach a Strictly Final?  That sounds like a debate for a future blog!

Joint 5th quickest: Artem (with Kara)

• Series 8 (2010) Week 5: 30th October 2010
• Paso Doble
• The Phantom of the Opera from Phantom of the Opera
• Score 37 (9,9,10,9)
• 10 awarded by Alesha
• 5th Routine

It had been a decent start to the competition for Kara & Artem with four scores between 30-32; however the judges said they were looking for Kara to give it “a bit more welly” and wanted “more fire” from her.  Well they certainly got that, and more, from this passionate Paso.

Artem should be commended, both for choreographing an excellent routine, and for being able to produce perfection while wearing the Phantom’s mask!

Joint 5th quickest: Brendan (with Natasha)

• Series 1 (2004) Week 5: 12th June 2004
• Samba
• Love Is In The Air by John Paul Young
• Score 37 (9,10,9,9)
• 10 awarded by Arlene
• 5th Routine

Not only did this routine deliver Brendan his first 10, but it was also the first (and only) 10 awarded in Series 1. Rewatching it now, I think it would be fair to classify this as a ‘generous’ 10, even based on current scoring.  Nevertheless, the Natasha & Brendan partnership, were undoubtedly a large factor in making this Series a success, and for that we should all be grateful. It’s also likely that this will be the only Strictly 10 ever to be awarded in the month of June!

Joint 5th quickest: Kai (with AJ)

• Series 19 (2021) Week 5: 23rd October 2021
• Argentine Tango
• Edge of Seventeen by Steve Nicks
• Score 35 (8,8,10,9)
• 10 awarded by Shirley
• 5th Routine

Having received nines for each of their first three routines, AJ & Kai’s first 10 eventually came in Week 5.  A dramatic, atmospheric Argentine Tango persuaded Shirley to bring out her 10 paddle, and this duo would go on to receive 14 more as they made their way to the Series 19 Final where due to AJ’s injury they unfortunately could not compete.

Joint 5th quickest: Natalie (with Ricky)

• Series 7 (2009) Week 5: 17th October 2009
• Viennese Waltz
• How Can I Be Sure? by David Cassidy
• Score 36 (8,9,10,9)
• 10 awarded by Alesha
• 5th Routine

After receiving a score of 33 for the Waltz with their first routine, hopes were high that Ricky & Natalie could deliver another strong performance when dancing the Viennese Waltz in Week 5. In her critique, Alesha felt that Ricky was “a ballroom boy at heart” and the routine “was like watching a professional couple”; and it’s hard to disagree with that.

A score of 36 took them to the top of the leaderboard, and this partnership eventually finished as the Series 7 Runners-Up. Incidentally, Natalie remains the only Pro dancer to receive their first 10 when dancing the Viennese Waltz.

Joint 3rd quickest: Jowita (with Hamza)

• Series 20 (2022) Week 4: 15th October 2022
• Salsa
• Ecuador by Sash! featuring Rodriguez
• Score 39 (9,10,10,10)
• 10s awarded by Motsi, Shirley & Anton
• 4th Routine

After patiently spending a year on the Strictly bench, Jowita made an instant impact receiving a score of 34 for her first routine with Hamza.  The first 10 came soon after in Week 4, with a fantastic Salsa that combined a cool, effortless rhythm with a series of thrilling lifts.

Joint 3rd quickest: Vito (with Fleur)

• Series 20 (2022) Week 4: 15th October 2022
• Argentine Tango
• Paint It, Black by Ciara
• Score 38 (9,10,9,10)
• 10s awarded by Motsi & Anton
• 4th Routine

Just minutes before Jowita received her first 10, Vito achieved the same feat with a stylish Argentine Tango with Fleur. This was a routine where we really saw the best of what Fleur had to offer, and it holds the record for the earliest 10 ever awarded for an Argentine Tango.

2nd quickest: Nancy (with Rhys)

• Series 19 (2021) Week 3: 9th October 2021
• Couple’s Choice
• Spider-Man from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
• Score 37 (9,10,9,9)
• 10 awarded by Motsi
• 3rd Routine

To be honest, this is a routine that, despite it receiving the first 10 of the Series, I struggle to remember.  Perhaps it’s due to the Couple’s Choice dance style, or maybe it’s because the John & Johannes pirate-themed Paso followed shortly afterwards. Anyway, this ‘high energy’ routine is a perfect summation of the dances that Rhys & Nancy produced throughout the series, and it impressed Motsi sufficiently to award it her first ever Movie Week 10.

1st quickest: Vincent (with Louisa)

• Series 4 (2006) Week 3: 21st October 2006
• Jive
• Smiley Faces by Gnarls Barkley
• Score 36 (8,9,9,10)
• 10 awarded by Bruno
• 2nd Routine

The earliest 10 ever awarded in Strictly history goes to Vincent & Louisa.  Six other partnerships have also received a 10 in Week 3, however the structure of Series 4 meant that this was only the second routine that this duo performed. What makes this 10 even more remarkable is that it was achieved with so few hours preparation.  A hamstring injury suffered by Vincent on the Monday, meant that the partnership were unable to perform a full run through of the routine before Saturday’s live show! Unfortunately, this early success was not repeated, and this ended up being the only 10 that Louisa received on the show.  Vincent himself would have to perform another 17 routines before receiving his second 10.