Last weekend, Angela Rippon & Kai became the 23rd Strictly partnership to win a dance-off in successive weeks.

In this blog we look back on what happened to the other duos who previously accomplished this feat.

Note: the dance-off has only been used as a way to eliminate contestants in Series 6-7 and 10-21.

Three Strikes, You’re Out!

Perhaps surprisingly, only five partnerships went on to leave the competition after their next performance.

• Series 7, Week 10: Ricky Groves & Erin – Tango
• Series 11, Week 4: Julien Macdonald & Janette – Salsa
• Series 12, Week 10: Sunetra Sarkar & Brendan – Rumba
• Series 16, Week 10: Graeme Swann & Oti – Quickstep
• Series 19, Week 6: Judi Love & Graziano – Cha Cha Cha

Leaving in Week 4, fashion designer Julien is the only celebrity that has appeared in three dance-offs, without also experiencing the high of being called safe.

Comedian Judi had (what is hopefully) a unique experience for a Strictly contestant, as her two dance-off victories were followed with a Week 5 bye (due to Covid) before elimination occurred the following week. Departing in Week 10 of their respective Series’, Ricky, Sunetra and Graeme all performed credibly, and lasted long enough to perform in Blackpool.

Out of these five, Sunetra & Brendan received the highest score (with a total of 27 points) in the week that they were eliminated.

Three-peat

There have been four partnerships who followed up their ‘double dance-off’ success with a third straight dance-off victory the following week.

• Series 11, Week 9: Mark Benton & Iveta – Foxtrot
• Series 16, Week 12: Ashley Roberts & Pasha – American Smooth
• Series 17, Week 7: Mike Bushell & Katya – Charleston
• Series 18, Week 8: Jamie Laing & Karen – Salsa

Both ‘Made in Chelsea’s’ Jamie and ‘Pussycat Doll’ Ashley completed the ‘hat trick’ in their respective Series’ Semi-final. As for stage and screen actor Mark, and sports presenter Mike; both of them went on to suffer elimination after appearing in a fourth consecutive dance-off.

Here is Ashley & Pasha’s American Smooth from the Semi-final, which received a full set of ‘tens’ from the judges.

Table Toppers (or Close to it)

Eight partnerships were able to put in performances that put them at (or around) the top of the leaderboard, which helped to ensure they were spared from a third successive dance-off appearance.

• Series 6, Week 11: Lisa Snowdon & Brendan (1st out of 5) – Foxtrot (39) and Cha Cha Cha (37)
• Series 7, Week 13: Ricky Whittle & Natalie (1st of 3) – Argentine Tango (49) and Waltz (47)
• Series 14, Week 7: Daisy Lowe & Aljaz (=3rd of 9) – Viennese Waltz (34)
• Series 15, Week 12: Alexandra Burke & Gorka (1st of 5) – Salsa (40) and Viennese Waltz (39)
• Series 16, Week 5: Charles Venn & Karen (=2nd of 12) – Couple’s Choice (36)
• Series 18, Week 6: Maisie Smith & Gorka (2nd of 7) – Quickstep (29/30)
• Series 19, Week 9: Tilly Ramsay & Nikita (1st of 7) – Couple’s Choice (40)
• Series 19, Week 11: Rhys Stephenson & Nancy (=1st of 5) – Argentine Tango (39)

Of these celebrities, Lisa, Ricky, Alexandra and Maisie would all eventually make it to the Final. Charles would last another six weeks, in reaching the Quarter-final. Daisy, Tilly and Rhys however, were all eliminated just one week later.

With just the second Couple’s Choice ever performed on Strictly, here is Charles & Karen’s 36-scoring routine.

And here is Rhys & Nancy’s near perfect Argentine Tango.

Unfinished Sympathy?

Four partnerships however, found themselves in the bottom half of the leaderboard, and in real danger of a third consecutive dance-off appearance; before the public awarded them with a ‘bottom two bounce’.

• Series 6, Week 6: Heather Small & Brian (6th of 11) – Viennese Waltz (27)
• Series 13, Week 7: Jamelia & Tristan (7th of 10) – Viennese Waltz (28)
• Series 15, Week 8: Mollie King & AJ (7th of 9) – Paso Doble (22)
• Series 17, Week 4: David James & Nadiya (=8th of 13) – Quickstep

Of the four, Mollie from ‘The Saturdays’ went on to finish with the best overall result, in reaching the Semi-final. Goalkeeper David was eliminated the following week, whereas singers Heather and Jamelia both remained in the competition for a further two weeks.

Here is David & Nadiya’s 28-scoring Quickstep, which was the only one of their five routines to earn a score in the twenties.

And Finally…

Falling into a category all by herself, actress, singer and presenter Denise is the only celebrity to have their two consecutive dance-off victories occur in the Quarter-final and Semi-final.

• Series 10, Week 12: Denise van Outen & James – Charleston (40), Showdance (40) and a Jive (39)

On reaching the 2012 Final, this duo excelled, and although they did not win the Glitterball, a score of 119 out of 120 saw them top the leaderboard. Here is their 39-scoring Jive which opened the Final.