More often than not, the Strictly judges and viewers are in broad alignment over which two couples should perform in the weekly dance-off, however in this blog we look back at the partnerships from the last ten years who suffered a drop of at least five places on the Leaderboard once the public had had their say.

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

‘The Dangerous Middle’

Mark Wright & Karen

• Series 12, Week 4 (2014)
• Quickstep (29 points)
• Judges position: 7th (out of 13)

Reality TV star Mark had a relatively quiet start to the Series finishing in 6th and 7th places with the judges in Weeks 2 and 3. The following week a score of 29 put them in the middle of the leaderboard again, but on this occasion a tie involving three couples on 27 points left them closer to the ‘danger zone’.

Mark & Karen beat Tim Wonnacott & Natalie in the first of three dance-off appearances, and eventually made it all the way to the Series 12 Final.

Laura Whitmore & Giovanni

• Series 14, Week 3 (2016)
• Salsa (30 points)
• Judges position: 8th (out of 14)

Many expected TV presenter Laura to challenge for the Glitterball when she was partnered with Giovanni, and they got off to a good start with a 32-scoring Waltz putting them in fourth place on the combined Week 1 & 2 judges’ leaderboard.

The following week saw a slight dip, with a score of 30 putting them at the top of ‘the bottom half’. After falling into the dance-off, Len’s casting vote secured a 3-1 win over Tameka Empson & Gorka; before Laura eventually exited the competition in Week 7.

Davood Ghadami & Nadiya

• Series 15, Week 4 (2017)
• Viennese Waltz (29 points)
• Judges position: 6th (out of 13)

In Week 4 ‘EastEnder’ Davood & Nadiya received a score of 29 points when performing the Viennese Waltz. This put them at the bottom of ‘the top half’, just above eventual finalists Joe McFadden & Katya and Debbie McGee & Giovanni, and it was not enough to secure automatic safety.

In the dance-off, Davood & Nadiya defeated Charlotte Hawkins & Brendan in a unanimous decision; before eventually bowing out of the competition at the Quarter-final stage.

Lee Ryan & Nadiya

• Series 16, Week 2 (2018)
• Jive (26 points)
• Judges position: 7th (out of 15)

Singer and actor Lee was hoping to continue the success achieved by fellow band-mate, and Series 12 finalist, Simon Webbe. Partnered with Nadiya, they had a steady start with scores of 22 and 26 putting them in the middle of the leaderboard.

The public however were not impressed, and despite a comfortable victory over Susannah Constantine & Anton in the first dance-off, it only turned out to be a short-lived reprieve, with Lee leaving the following week.

Kym Marsh & Graziano

• Series 20, Week 4 (2022)
• Samba (32 points)
• Judges position: Joint 5th (out of 13)

Actress, singer and presenter Kym impressed the judges with a score of 33 in Movie week, and followed up with a 32-scoring Samba. This put her and Graziano in a seemingly comfortable leaderboard position, however this would turn out to be far from a normal week as it contained both Hamza’s astonishing Salsa, and an ‘under the weather’ Will Mellor finishing in next to last place.

With both Hamza and Will hoovering up votes for differing reasons, Kym & Graziano ended up as surprise dance-off participants. They won this comfortably, beating Matt Goss & Nadiya in a unanimous decision; before eventually departing in the Quarter-finals.

‘Repeat Offenders’

Daisy Lowe & Aljaž

• Series 14, Weeks 5 & 6 (2016)
• Charleston (32 points) & Paso Doble (33 points)
• Judges position: Joint 4th (out of 10); and 4th (out of 10)

Model Daisy, and Aljaž , are one of only twelve partnerships that received a score of at least 30 points for every routine. This consistency provided them with a degree of leaderboard protection; however the public were clearly not enamoured with their Week 5 Charleston, which landed them in a dance-off against Lesley Joseph & Anton.

A week later it was a case of deja-vu, with the judges again placing Daisy & Aljaž in fourth place for their ‘Day of the Dead’ inspired Paso Doble. A ‘bottom two bounce’ failed to materialise, and the likes of Ore Oduba, Danny Mac, Ed Balls and Judge Rinder all received a higher public vote. Anastacia & Brendan were beaten in the Week 6 dance-off, but it would be Daisy’s turn to leave in Week 8.

Molly Rainford & Carlos

• Series 20, Weeks 5 & 7 (2022)
• Couple’s Choice (30 points) & Foxtrot (35 points)
• Judges position: 6th (out of 12); and joint 4th (out of 10)

Molly and Carlos were another of the partnerships who consistently scored in the thirties every week. Indeed, the only time that this duo finished outside of the judges top four occurred in Week 5, with a peculiar ’Grange Hill’ themed Couple’s Choice.

After eliminating Jayde Adams & Karen in the dance-off, Molly & Carlos suffered another slide down the leaderboard two weeks later. On that occasion, it was a 35-scoring Foxtrot which failed to pull in the votes, and eventually led to Ellie Simmonds & Nikita being vanquished. Despite this double setback, Molly & Carlos did go on to reach the 2022 Final.

‘Double Trouble’

Fleur East & Vito; Richie Anderson & Giovanni

• Series 20, Week 3 (2022)
• American Smooth (29 points) & Samba (27 points)
• Judges position: Joint 6th and joint 8th (out of 14)

Week 4 of Series 20 delivered arguably the most surprising dance-off combination from the past ten years, as one-by-one, each of the partnerships who were in the bottom five of the judges leaderboard were called safe. This eventually led to a dance-off between Fleur & Vito and Richie & Giovanni. Fleur was victorious in a unanimous decision, and poor Richie has the misfortune to be the only celebrity on this list who was eliminated in the week that they suffered their slide down the leaderboard.

‘From (almost) Top to Bottom’

Michelle Visage & Giovanni

• Series 17, Week 8 (2019)
• American Smooth (36 points)
• Judges position: 2nd (out of 8)

As we have seen, a mid-table placing can be a precarious place to be; in contrast, a second-place finish generally enables a celebrity to sit back, relax, and wonder what questions they will be asked in the Clauditorium, as one of that week’s ‘safe’ couples. This didn’t turn out to be the case for Michelle & Giovanni in Week 8. Their American Smooth did receive both plaudits and a score of ‘nine’ from every judge; but it also finished either last, or next to last, with the public.

Mike Bushell & Katya were dispatched comfortably in the subsequent dance-off, but Michelle’s time on the show ended just one week later.

Maisie Smith & Gorka

• Series 18, Week 5 (2020)
• Salsa (27/30 points)
• Judges position: Joint 2nd (out of 8)

A surprising mid-table placement in Week 4 led to a first dance-off appearance for Maisie & Gorka, where they were victorious against Max George and Dianne. The following week the duo were back on top form, scoring 27 out of 30, and putting themselves in joint second place with the judges.

This however, was another instance where there was to be no ‘bottom two bounce’, and Maisie & Gorka received the lowest, or next to lowest number of votes. They were however, able to knock out Caroline Quentin & Johannes, and in the end, made it all the way to the Series 18 Final.

‘From a voting shortfall to winning the Glitterball!’

We end this blog on a positive note, looking back at the three partnerships who were able to turn their fortunes around from being shock dance-off participants to being crowned as Series champions.

Abbey Clancy & Aljaž

• Series 11, Week 6 (2013)
• Rumba (34 points)
• Judges position: Joint 2nd (out of 11)

Abbey & Aljaž certainly received a fright in this Halloween-themed episode. Their score of 34 for the Rumba was good enough to finish in a three-way tie for second place with the judges, however the public preferred at least nine of the other ten routines that were performed on the night. After Rachel Reilly & Pasha were defeated in the dance-off, Abbey & Aljaž suffered no more scares on their way to winning the Glitterball.

Caroline Flack & Pasha

• Series 12, Weeks 7 (2014)
• Waltz (31 points)
• Judges position: Joint 4th (out of 10)

Caroline & Pasha had their dabble with the dance-off in Week 7. Somewhat hidden away in second in running-order, their Waltz impressed the judges, but was largely forgotten by the public by the time the vote opened. Alison & Aljaž were defeated in the subsequent dance-off, and on their way to the Glitterball, this duo became the first partnership to receive a score of 40 in each of their final four routines of the Series.

Ore Oduba & Joanne

• Series 14, Weeks 7 (2016)
• Salsa (34 points)
• Judges position: Joint 3rd (out of 9)

A score of 34 for their Salsa seemed to put Ore & Joanne in a relatively safe spot on the leaderboard; however, a combination of two-way ties on 33 and 32 points, and Daisy & Aljaž receiving their ‘bottom two bounce’ at the second time of asking, conspired to see them drop into the dance-off. After defeating Laura & Giovanni that week, and then Judge Rinder & Oksana in the Quarter-final, this partnership are the only duo to survive two dance-off appearances on their way to Glitterball glory.