We are at the halfway point of the Series and the competition is definitely hotting up in the Strictly Ballroom. Here we explore seven facts and stats from the first seven weeks of the show – some you may know, others you may not and one or two will probably surprise you, like they did us!

1st Leaderboard-topping Week 1 Paso

Nigel & Katya’s Paso Doble, danced to ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ by Nirvana, was the first time a Paso has topped the Week 1 Leaderboard in any Series, though it is only the fifth appearance of this style in Week 1. Earning 32 points, it is the highest scoring of these five Week 1 Pasos that have been performed on the show to date, and saw Shirley telling Nigel (perhaps a little prematurely) “You’re the one to beat!”

Only 1 Leaderboard in Weeks 1-7 topped by a Ballroom Routine

In the first seven weeks of this Series, only once has a ballroom dance topped the Leaderboard – another Strictly first. Perhaps it’s no surprise that Anton told Janette on ITT that this year couples have been struggling with the ballroom routines. Layton and Nikita’s leaderboard-topping Quickstep to Gregory Porter’s ‘Puttin’ On the Ritz’ (score 36) now holds the joint highest-scoring Quickstep record for Week 2 with Colin Jackson & Erin’s danced back in 2005.

Zero Ballroom Eliminations

Though not earning the highest scores, ballroom routines still seem to be ‘safer’ on the whole than ‘Latin’ styles. No couple has been eliminated after dancing a ballroom style this Series (although Week 1 saw a Tango and a Waltz at the foot of the leaderboard). Since then the only risky routine has been Angela & Kai’s Week 7 Waltz which saw them in a controversial dance-off. Shirley scored it a 6, lower than the 7 she awarded Adam & Luba’s Rumba but then somewhat surprisingly said she would have saved Angela & Kai if her dance-off vote had been needed!

Balance of Ballroom, Latin and Speciality Routines

The balance of Ballroom versus Latin routines is fair so far this Series; 32 Ballroom, 31 Latin and 24 Speciality dance styles. However, with only a single Waltz in the Ballroom camp this Saturday, the scales are starting to tip. By the time Strictly reaches Blackpool, we will have seen 33 Ballroom dances, 35 Latin and 27 Speciality. A slight predominance of Latin routines is not unusual; it has been true of Weeks 1-7 in every Series since 2015 until now.

3 Back-to-Back Bottom 2 Placements for the American Smooth

This Series is confirming the ‘risky’ nature of the American Smooth, with 3 back-to-back appearances for this dance style in the bottom two between Weeks 4 and 6. Every couple so far has won the dance-off with an American Smooth but then been eliminated the following week. We don’t think Ellie & Vito will fall prey to this unfortunate trend and suspect we may even get to see their fantastic routine danced another day.

Our recent Halloween week research showed it to be one of the riskier routines, with 24.3% of all American Smooths danced in elimination weeks ending up in the bottom two (more than both the Cha Cha Cha and Salsa). Bobby & Dianne beware!

Samba Remains the Dance of Danger

2 Samba eliminations in the first seven weeks of a Series has only occurred once before, in Series 7. Despite its notorious reputation, for two couples to go home after a Samba in the first seven shows (as did Les & Nancy in Week 2 and Eddie & Karen in Week 5) is almost unheard of. In early Series this is explained by the fact that Sambas were all danced in a single week, meaning only one elimination resulted. With two more Sambas appearing this weekend (Annabel & Johannes and Krishnan & Lauren) we’re crossing our dancing feet that Week 8 won’t deliver a third Samba elimination in the first 8 weeks of a Series. That would be an unfortunate Strictly first!

Only the 2nd Rumba Elimination in Weeks 1-7 in 12 Years

Adam’s elimination following his Rumba with Luba is, in fact, only the second time that a Rumba has resulted in an exit when danced in Weeks 1 to 7 during the last twelve years of the show. Yes, we were surprised too! Adam joins another male celebrity Ugo Monye on this list, who with Oti was eliminated after this dance in Week 5 of Series 19.

Talking of Rumbas, is there any chance this weekend will see the first Rumba 40 in Strictly history? After 146 dances over 21 Series, we’re certainly pinning all our hopes on Ellie & Vito. Go team aubergine!

Photo credits: BBC embeddable video thumbnails from YouTube