An early running order spot, coupled with the lowest scoring routine of the night, is often a sign that a partnership’s time on Strictly is coming to an end. In this blog however, we look back at the ten partnerships who were able to overcome this unenviable combination, with the public rescuing them from a bottom two appearance.

Note: In my analysis I have excluded occasions in which partnerships performed more than one routine in a show (for example, in Semi-final weeks).

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

Jessie Wallace & Darren

• Series 6, Week 2 (2008)
• Salsa (20 points)
• Judges position: 8th (out of 8)

The format of Series 6 saw each of the male celebrities perform in Week 1, before it was the turn of the female celebrities seven days later.

The Week 2 show was opened by EastEnder Jessie (partnered by Darren), and by the end of the evening their score of 20 points left them rooted at the bottom of the leaderboard, one place behind Lisa Snowdon & Brendan, who would go on to reach the Final.

The public saved Jessie & Darren from the dance-off, but the reprieve was short lived, as they departed after another last place finish in their next performance.

Christine Bleakley & Matthew

• Series 6, Week 10 (2008)
• Cha Cha Cha (27 points)
• Judges position: 6th (out of 6)

Week 10 of Series 6, saw only six couples perform after John Sergeant & Kristina withdrew from the competition. Performing second in the running order were TV presenter Christine Bleakley and Matthew, and their score of 27 was easily outshone by the likes of Austin Healy & Erin (35), Tom Chambers & Camilla (36) and Rachel Stevens & Vincent (who received the first ever perfect score for the Foxtrot).

A strong public vote enabled Christine & Matthew to avoid the dance-off, however their luck ran out one week later, after another last place finish.

Ann Widdecombe & Anton

• Series 8, Week 9 (2010)
• Rumba (14 points)
• Judges position: 7th (out of 7)

Perhaps surprisingly, only one of Ann and Anton’s routines qualify for this countdown. They ended up in last place on seven separate occasions, however their notoriety often meant they were placed quite late in the running order. The one exception to this was in Week 9, when their Rumba was the second dance of the night. This is one of the ten Strictly routines to receive a solitary point from Craig.

With the continued lack of any improvement from Ann, the joke was starting to wear thin, and this duo were dispatched from the competition in Week 10.

Fiona Fullerton & Anton

• Series 11, Week 4 (2013)
• Rumba (22 points)
• Judges position: 13th (out of 13)

Three years later we saw history repeat itself, with an Anton Rumba performed second in the running order, and placed bottom of the leaderboard by the judges.

This time Anton’s partner was former ‘Bond girl’ Fiona, and a three-way tie just above them on 23 points helped improve their survival chances. Fiona took advantage of this narrow escape, making it all the way to Blackpool week.

Carol Kirkwood & Pasha

• Series 13, Week 3 (2015)
• Quickstep (17 points)
• Judges position: 14th (out of 14)

Carol & Pasha were given the honour of opening Movie week in Series 13; however the judges rated their Quickstep as a ‘box office flop’, giving it a lowly score of 17. The public though rated this partnership as ‘fresh’, rather than ‘rotten’, and the duo would continue to escape elimination up until Week 7.

Anita Rani & Gleb

• Series 13, Week 11 (2013)
• Argentine Tango (31 points)
• Judges position: 6th (out of 6)

TV presenter Anita (dancing with Gleb) performed a ‘Chicago’-themed Argentine Tango in the Series 13 Quarter-final. Their score of 31 put them at least three points below each of the other five partnerships. After being called safe, roles were reversed one week later with Anita & Gleb being beaten in the Semi-final dance-off by Katie Derham & Anton, who themselves had finished bottom of that week’s leaderboard.

Susan Calman & Kevin

• Series 15, Week 9 (2017)
• Paso Doble (25 points)
• Judges position: 8th (out of 8)

After reaching the Final in each of his first four years on the show, most people expected Kevin to experience an early exit in 2017 when he was partnered with stand-up comedian Susan Calman. Production had previously turned down Kevin’s request for a ‘Strictly Ballroom’ themed Paso Doble on multiple occasions, but agreed to it in 2017 on the proviso that the duo made it through to Blackpool week.

Unlike most of his other Paso Doble routines, this one underwhelmed the judges. This popular duo were saved by the public; but elimination would occur one week later, in a dance-off against Alexandra Burke & Gorka.

Gemma Atkinson & Aljaž

• Series 15, Week 11 (2017)
• Quickstep (29 points)
• Judges position: Joint 5th (out of 6)

Actress Gemma (partnered with Aljaž) opened ‘Musicals week’ with a Quickstep from ‘Hello, Dolly!’ and their score of 29 placed them in a tie for last place with Davood Ghadami & Nadiya. As there was also a tie at the top of the leaderboard, none of the couples could relax heading in to the results show; and it turned out to be table toppers Alexandra & Gorka who had to perform again, beating Davood & Nadiya.

Gemma & Aljaž did go on to survive a dance-off appearance in the Semi-final, on their way to finishing Runners-up in the Final.

Lauren Steadman & AJ

• Series 16, Weeks 9 & 11 (2018)
• Argentine Tango (25 points); American Smooth (35 points)
• Judges position: 8th (out of 8); Joint 5th (out of 6)

Paratriathlete Lauren (dancing with AJ) is the only Strictly contestant to have been saved by the public on two occasions after an ‘early performing, lowest scoring routine’. The first of these came at Blackpool, when from second in the running order, their Argentine Tango finished at least five points behind every other partnership.

Two weeks later, an incredible show saw every couple receive a score of 35 points or higher. Lauren & AJ’s American Smooth (which opened the show) was their highest scoring routine of the Series; and the public voted them directly through to the Semi-final, where they would eventually be eliminated by Ashley Roberts & Pasha.

AJ Odudu & Kai

• Series 19, Week 8 (2021)
• Paso Doble (28 points)
• Judges position: 8th (out of 8)

Having topped the Week 7 leaderboard with a 39-scoring Charleston, it shocked everyone to see this partnership drop from ‘first to worst’ just seven days later with their Paso Doble. It’s hard to say exactly why this routine fell flat. Was it the non-traditional music, the unusual colour for a Paso dress, AJ’s momentary slip part way through the routine, or something else entirely?

Finding themselves in an unfamiliar position on the leaderboard, the public came to the rescue in their hour of need; and they eventually reached the Series 19 Final, before (due to AJ’s foot injury) they had to withdraw.