In part 2, we finish our countdown of which celebrities improved the most during their time on Strictly, looking just at the simplest metric: who saw the greatest single score increase. Where two or more celebrities’ differences between their top and bottom scores are equal, the length of time between the these two is taken into account.

If you haven’t read part 1, it’s here together with some clarifications on the data.

=8th Stacey Dooley & Kevin (S16); Tilly Ramsay & Nikita (S19)

• Score improvement: 19 points in 8 weeks
• Stacey: W2 Cha Cha Cha – 20; W10 Paso Doble – 39
• Tilly: W1 Waltz – 21; W9 Couple’s Choice – 40

Stacey is our 4th winner, and it’s unsurprising that her joint highest scoring routine was a Paso as her partner Kevin excelled at this style, earning 18 tens in 7 years. Tilly’s leaderboard-topping reprieve with her perfect W9 Couples Choice (to Matilda’s ‘Revolting Children’) was sadly short-lived. She had been in 2 dance-offs in preceding weeks and went home the next week after a Samba. Would she have scored 40 if Craig (and not Cynthia Erivo) had been judging? We’ll never know.

Did you know? 
Stacey is one of 7 celebrities who won Strictly without receiving a perfect dance score.

=6th Nicky Byrne & Karen (S10); Pete Wicks & Jowita (S22)

• Score improvement: 19 points in 7 weeks
• Nicky: W1 Waltz- 17; W8 Charleston – 36
• Pete: W1 Paso – 17; W8 Couple’s Choice – 36

Identical score increases across identical weeks for different styles for these two, who typify the Strictly ‘journey’ but Pete’s average judge score was slightly higher (6.77 compared to 6.65) and he made it one week further in the competition (Semi-Final). Interestingly 2 other male celebrities on this list achieve their highest score with a Couple’s Choice (like Pete) and 2 other male stars do the same with a Charleston (like Nicky).

This is Karen’s first of three appearances as a pro partner here; more than any other, and all three are in the top half of the list.

Did you know?
Pete earned one 10 for his emotional couple’s choice routine, from Shirley. This meant S22 was the first in which 4 different male contestants received at least one 10 (Pete – 1, Jamie – 5, Chris – 12, JB – 28).

5th Sara Davies & Aljaž (S19)

• Score improvement: 19 points in 3 weeks
• W1 Cha Cha Cha – 17; W4 Tango – 36

The highest placed female celebrity on this list, Sara is often cited as the most improved celebrity as in one week she went from ‘worst to first’ on the judges’ leaderboard. After a Cha Cha Cha 17 in W1, she doubled her score with a leaderboard-topping Foxtrot in W2 (34). On our list she’s 5th because two weeks later her Tango scored 36.

Did you know?
Sara has the joint lowest scoring Couple’s Choice routine. Her Game of Thrones dance scored 23 points in Halloween week of S19 (matched by Greg & Karen’s Couple’s Choice in the same series).

4th Bill Bailey & Oti (S18)

• Score improvement: 15 points adjusted to 20 points in 8 weeks
• W1 Cha Cha Cha – 15/30 adjusted to 20; W9 (Final) Showdance – 30/30 adjusted to 40

Bill is the highest placed winner on this list and the only celebrity here to have a Showdance as his single top scoring routine. He is not, however, the highest placed comedian. Indeed another comedian – Chris McCausland – just missed out on inclusion with a 17-point improvement achieved in 12 weeks. It seems male comedians enjoy some of the best Strictly journeys!

Did you know?
Bill was the first contestant to dance to a Metallica track; his Tango with Oti to ‘Enter Sandman’ scored 23/30 (30.67 when adjusted).

3rd Michael Vaughan & Natalie (S10)

• Score improvement: 20 points in 5 weeks
• W2 Jive – 15; W7 (Wembley Arena) American Smooth – 35

Michael’s non-ballroom styles let him down, and this is the main reason he’s 3rd. His earlier Quickstep and Foxtrot both scored 31, but the American Smooth was his high point and praised by Craig as demonstrating Michael’s progression from the ‘dance gutters’. It was honoured by being chosen as the closing routine for the live Wembley Arena show in front of 6000 people.

Did you know?
Michael & Natalie enjoyed a surprising Strictly survival after a mistake-strewn Salsa in W6; that week’s dance-off shocked most of us pitting 2nd placed Kimberley & Pasha against Fern & Artem.

2nd Jamie Laing & Karen (S18)

• Score improvement: 15 points adjusted to 20 points in 4 weeks
• W1 Cha Cha Cha – 14/30 adjusted to 18.67; W5 Couple’s Choice – 29/30 adjusted to 38.67

High scores for Couple’s Choice routines have helped a few stars onto the countdown and Jamie’s no exception (though he scored 29 for his Showdance too). He survived 4 dance-offs to reach the S18 Final with Karen; though interestingly the judges’ votes were split in 3 of these decisions and hence the choice of Elton John’s ‘I’m Still Standing’ for his Showdance.

Did you know?
Jamie’s achievement of surviving 4 dance-offs to reach the Final has been matched by two other celebrities – Molly Rainford and Fleur East both in S20.

1st Chris Ramsey & Karen (S17)

• Score improvement: 21 points in 6 weeks
• W1 Cha Cha Cha – 13; W7 Couple’s Choice – 34

If you’ve read the clues carefully, you’ll have worked this out. Congratulations to Chris & Karen, the partnership that hold the record for the single biggest score increase in Strictly history. What is it about comedians?

Couple’s Choice appears again – as does Karen, the pro at number 1 and 2 on this countdown. Has she found the secret to a successful Strictly journey? In fact, Chris and Jamie’s journeys are incredibly similar and if you watch back each of their Street/Commercial style routines, the similarities are striking (even down to the sets)!

Did you know?
Early weeks hinted at Chris’ potential to improve. Like Sara Davies, Chris doubled his W1 score of 13 in W2 when he performed a 26-scoring Charleston.

Photo Credits
Bill Bailey: Wikipedia
Nicky Byrne: BBC
Sara Davies: BBC
Tilly Ramsay: BBC
Chris Ramsey: Wikipedia
Michael Vaughan: Wikipedia
Pete Wicks: BBC