As we move into the second half of Series 21, naturally our thoughts turn to who could be this year’s Strictly champions.  We may think that we know who are the ‘contenders’ and who are the ‘pretenders’, but in previous years there have been a number of celebrities who have revealed themselves as ‘late bloomers’.

In this blog we countdown the top ten partnerships who improved the most when comparing their average scores from the two halves of the competition.

As in previous blogs, to enable a fair comparison between contestants, all dances that were scored by either three or five judges have been recalculated into a score out of 40.

10th Caroline Flack & Pasha

• Series 12 (2014)
• 1st half average score: 31.37 (55th best)
• 2nd half average score: 38.11 (10th best)
• Improvement of 6.74 points

Series 12 Champions Caroline & Pasha had a steady, if unspectacular first half; which included a dance-off appearance in Week 7. An incredible second half saw them top the leaderboard in each of the last four weeks; and Caroline became the first celebrity to receive four consecutive scores of 40, one of which was this Cha Cha Cha.

9th Nicky Byrne & Karen

• Series 10 (2012)
• 1st half average score: 23.83 (196th best)
• 2nd half average score: 30.75 (96th best)
• Improvement of 6.82 points

In Series 10, Westlife’s Nicky was paired with Karen (who was making her debut on the show), and it’s fair to say that they didn’t have the best of starts, scoring just 17 for their Week 1 Waltz, and 18 for their Week 2 Cha Cha Cha. As a guide, this duo’s first half performance placed them narrowly below Russell Grant (24.00) from Series 9, and marginally above Mike Bushell (23.29) from Series 17.

Thankfully, from that point on, there was a marked improvement; and a highlight, on their way to the Quarter-final, was this 36-scoring Charleston.

8th Gethin Jones & Camilla

• Series 5 (2007)
• 1st half average score: 29.17 (98th best)
• 2nd half average score: 36.14 (43rd best)
• Improvement of 6.98 points

A first half average score of 29.17 points for TV presenter Gethin closely matches the result achieved by Angela Scanlon (29.00) this year. Gethin & Camilla’s campaign got off to a slow start, scoring 22 points for a Week 1 Cha Cha Cha, which placed them third from bottom of the leaderboard.

They would eventually achieve a third place finish, with every routine in the second half earning 34 points or higher, and their personal best being this 39-scoring Waltz.

7th Rose Ayling-Ellis & Giovanni

• Series 19 (2021)
• 1st half average score: 31.43 (=52nd best)
• 2nd half average score: 38.44 (=5th best)
• Improvement of 7.02 points

The first half scores for Series 19 Champions Rose & Giovanni ranged from a lowly 22 for their Week 1 Jive (which received a rare ‘four’ from Shirley), to a perfect 40 for their Week 6 Tango.

Their sensational scores in the second half of the competition have only been bettered by four celebrities (Maisie Smith, Ashley Roberts, Faye Tozer and Danny Mac); and seven of their nine routines received a score of 39 or above, including this near perfect American Smooth.

6th Dani Harmer & Vincent

• Series 10 (2012)
• 1st half average score: 28.50 (=109th best)
• 2nd half average score: 35.88 (=45th best)
• Improvement of 7.38 points

Actress Dani’s first half performance of 28.50 points is almost identical to that achieved by Annabel Croft (28.57) this year. Partnered with Vincent, Dani failed to receive a single score in the thirties until Week 5. However, on their way to the Final, each second half routine earned a score of 34 points or higher, including a 38 for this Argentine Tango.

5th Kimberley Walsh & Pasha

• Series 10 (2012)
• 1st half average score: 30.17 (79th best)
• 2nd half average score: 37.56 (=19th best)
• Improvement of 7.39 points

Series 10 makes its third appearance on this countdown, as ‘Girls Aloud’ singer Kimberley joins both Nicky and Dani. Kimberley’s scores in the first half were very consistent, and her average score is similar to both Bobby (30.29) and Angela Rippon (30.14) this year. As with Angela, Kimberley also fell into the dance-off at the half way mark.

Dancing with Pasha, Kimberley had an outstanding end to the Series, dropping a combined total of just four points in their final 6 routines, and making the Final. This Charleston is one of three routines that earned them a perfect score.

4th Charles Venn & Karen

• Series 16 (2018)
• 1st half average score: 27.00 (=138th best)
• 2nd half average score: 34.50 (=65th best)
• Improvement of 7.50 points

Actor Charles, dancing with Karen, had a frustrating start to the Series with four consecutive scores of 25, leading to dance-off appearances in Weeks 3 and 4. This was soon followed by another appearance in the ‘bottom two’ in Week 7.

Despite these setbacks Charles would go on to a Quarter-final appearance, receiving a score of 35 or higher in three of his last four routines. The highlight being this 38-scoring Samba in Blackpool.

3rd Chris Hollins & Ola

• Series 7 (2009)
• 1st half average score: 26.14 (157th best)
• 2nd half average score: 33.65 (75th best)
• Improvement of 7.51 points

Series 7 Champions Chris & Ola had an unspectacular first half, mostly spent in the middle of the leaderboard; and received a high score of just 30 points. The combined total score of Chris’ first seven routines is actually three points lower than that achieved by Krishnan (26.57) this year!

After not receiving anything more than an ‘eight’ from the judges in that first half, nine of their twelve routines in the second half received at least one ‘nine’ or ‘ten’, including this Foxtrot, which scored 46 out of 50.

2nd Simon Webbe & Kristina

• Series 12 (2014)
• 1st half average score: 28.29 (116th best)
• 2nd half average score: 37.00 (=28th best)
• Improvement of 8.71 points

‘Blue’ singer Simon, who danced with Kristina, had a quiet start to the Series and required dance-off victories to survive in Weeks 3 and 5. On that second occasion, this duo only prevailed over Thom Evans & Iveta due to Len’s casting vote. A remarkable turnaround then saw Simon receive scores of 36 or better in seven of his last nine routines, which led to an eventual joint second place finish.

I am sure we all remember ‘that’ Argentine Tango, but this 38-scoring Waltz confirms that Simon developed into an excellent dancer in many different styles.

1st Emma Barton & Anton

• Series 17 (2019)
• 1st half average score: 26.43 (=154th best)
• 2nd half average score: 35.67 (48th best)
• Improvement of 9.24 points

Given that they finished as Series runners up, it’s easy to forget how disappointing ‘Eastender’ Emma’s first half of Series 17 was. Dancing with Anton, six out of seven routines received a score of 28 points or fewer; with the undoubted low point being their 22-scoring Rumba in Week 7, which left them firmly at the bottom of the leaderboard.

The public ensured that they avoided the dance-off that week, and from then on this partnership went from strength to strength, receiving scores of 36 or better in six of their final nine routines, and earning fifteen ‘tens’ along the way. The first two of those ‘tens’ came for this American Smooth performed in Blackpool.

Honourable Mentions

• 11th Joe McFadden & Katya (Series 15, 2017): 6.71 points
• 12th Fleur East & Vito (Series 20, 2022): 6.48 points
• 13th Kellie Bright & Kevin (Series 13, 2015): 6.46 points
• 14th Kate Silverton & Aljaž (Series 16, 2018): 6.43 points
• 15th Georgia May Foote & Giovanni (Series 13, 2015): 6.41 points
• 16th Katie Derham & Anton (Series 13, 2015): 6.38 points
• 17th Stacey Dooley & Kevin (Series 16, 2018): 6.35 points
• =18th Harry Judd & Aliona (Series 9, 2011): 6.33 points
• =18th Denise van Outen & James (Series 10, 2012): 6.33 points
• 20th Lisa Snowdon & Brendan (Series 6, 2008): 6.27 points