Despite attracting celebrities from a wide range of ages, over the last twenty years it has often been the younger Strictly contestants who have ended up topping the weekly leaderboard.

Fifty year-old Nigel bucked that trend last week with his top scoring Paso Doble, and he became the tenth contestant aged 45, or older, who performed the highest scoring routine of the week.  How many of the other nine can you recall?

Note: The ages given for each celebrity are the age they were when they last headed the weekly leaderboard (the latter can be viewed in the new Leaderboards area of StrictlyDB).

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

10th Katie Derham (45 years, 3 months) & Anton

TV and radio presenter Katie achieved what many thought was the impossible, by guiding Anton to his first Strictly final at his thirteenth attempt.

This partnership received the highest score of Week 4 in 2015 when they closed the show with this lovely Viennese Waltz. Their score of 33 prevented a four way tie at the top between Kellie & Kevin, Helen & Aljaz, Peter & Janette and Jamelia & Tristan all scoring 32 that week.

9th Will Mellor (46 years, 7 months) & Nancy

Will and Nancy headed the leaderboard on three separate occasions in Series 20. In Week 1 their score of 34 for the Jive was only tied by Hamza & Jowita; and nine weeks later their 38-scoring Charleston was the best score of the night

They also finished tied for top spot in Musicals week, with their 39-scoring Foxtrot being somewhat overshadowed by Helen & Gorka’s Couple’s Choice.

8th Lesley Garrett (49 years, 1 month) & Anton

Although Natasha Kaplinsky & Brendan were the outstanding partnership in Series 1, the table toppers in the very first episode of Strictly were classical singer Lesley, who was partnered by Anton. Dancing a Waltz, their score of 29 was unmatched by any of the other seven partnerships.

Despite finishing in the top three every week thereafter, they never again hit the top spot, exiting the show at the Semi-final stage. Their Waltz can be viewed at the 13 minute mark in the video below.

7th Patrick Robinson (50 years, 1 month) & Anya

Actor Patrick finished top of the leaderboard on two occasions in Series 11. The first came when closing Week 7 with a 37-scoring American Smooth (this a few days after his 50th birthday).

The duo then finished tied with Natalie & Artem in the Quarter-final on 41 points, when their 36-scoring Rumba was combined with an additional 5 points from the Swing-a-thon.

6th Nigel Harman (50 years, 1 month) & Katya

With this show-closer in Week 1 of Series 21, Nigel became just the sixth male celebrity to top the leaderboard in the week that they performed the Paso Doble. The other five (Mark Ramprakash, Ricky Whittle, Danny Mac, Kelvin Fletcher  and John Whaite) all went on to reach their respective Finals.

5th Michelle Visage (51 years, 1 month) & Giovanni

Michelle headed the weekly leaderboard on two occasions in Series 17.  The first coming in Week 2, with a Viennese Waltz that scored an 8 from every judge.

Four weeks later, Giovanni ended in first place on Halloween week for a fifth consecutive year; with the duo earning 39 points for a ‘frightful’ Foxtrot, beating Kelvin & Oti by three points.

4th Cherie Lunghi (56 years, 7 months) & James

Stage and screen actress Cherie (partnered by James) was a table topper on three occasions in Series 6; for their Week 2 Foxtrot (33), Week 4 Rumba (35), and Week 8 Waltz (36). Beating the likes of eventual finalists, Tom Chambers, Rachel Stevens and Lisa Snowdon.

Cherie and Will Mellor share the misfortune of being the only two celebrities on this countdown who were eliminated seven days after heading the leaderboard.

3rd Danny John-Jules (58 years, 1 month) & Amy

In Series 16, (which included both Ashley Roberts and Faye Tozer) fifty-eight year-old Danny not only earned the best score of the night, but also received the first ten of the Series for this Week 5 Jive, awarded by Darcey.

As well as being the only male celebrities on this countdown; Will, Patrick, Nigel and Danny have also all starred on the BBC TV show Casualty!

2nd Debbie McGee (59 years, 1 month) & Giovanni

In Series 15, ‘the lovely’ Debbie McGee (partnered with Giovanni) headed the combined Week 1 & 2 leaderboard without receiving the highest score in either week. Will Giovanni repeat this for a second time this year with Amanda?

Debbie went on to finish in top spot on four occasions, including with a perfect Tango in Week 7; and for the final time in Musicals week, with this 39-scoring American Smooth.

1st Pamela Stephenson (61 years, 0 months) & James

Comedian and psychologist Pamela (partnered by James) finished with the highest scoring routine in Series 8, on no less than five occasions, including in each of the first three weeks.

The last of these came in the Quarter-final, with a perfect scoring Viennese Waltz. Making the occasion even more memorable, this routine was performed on Pamela’s sixty-first birthday!

Honourable Mentions…

There are another four contestants, aged 45 or older, whose best weekly placing was second place on the leaderboard.

• Series 16: Charles Venn (45) & Karen, in Week 5 (Couple’s Choice, 36) and Week 9 (Samba, 38)
• Series 18: Bill Bailey (55) & Oti, in Week 3 (Paso, 26/30) and Week 4 (Couple’s Choice, 27/30)
  [Note 01/10/23: Thanks to JiveBunny for pointing out that Bill did finish joint top of the leaderboard in the 2020 Final; Finals leaderboards have not been included here as judges’ scoring is advisory then and does not contribute to results]
• Series 20: Kym Marsh (46) & Graziano, in Week 7 (Argentine Tango, 37)
• Series 21: Amanda Abbington (52) & Giovanni in Week 1 (Viennese Waltz, 29)