Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe were eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday evening after finding themselves in the dance-off with Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon
Strictly Come Dancing fans have been left disappointed after Alex Kingston was eliminated – but they praised Balvinder Sopal for surviving yet another dance-off.
Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are currently presenting their final series of the BBC show, before they wave goodbye to their hosting roles after decades at the helm. The pair’s replacement has yet to be revealed – but fans think they’ve cracked it!
Elsewhere, the show has been hit by a fix row after Katya Jones was seen sending a secret signal to Lewis Cope during the Instant Dance challenge. As part of the new format, the celebrities were separated and were not allowed to confer on their dance for more than 10 seconds before they took to the floor.
Chiara Fiorillo
Alex reflects on her Strictly journey
After the results show, Alex penned a special message on Instagram in which she reflected about her journey on Strictly and paid tribute to her dance partner, Johannes.
“Strictly had been the journey of a lifetime and such a dream come true,” she said.
She added, “It was always my dream to get to dance with Jo Jo and dance we did!”
In a special message to Johannes, she wrote: “You light up every room you walk into my darling man!”
Stars will take part in new ‘high stakes’ challenge
Strictly Come Dancing has announced that the remaining duos in the contest will face another ‘totally new high stakes’ challenge.
The BBC dance competition introduced a new challenge this week which required the couples to perform an impromptu dance without any practice.
After each duo had performed their choreographed dance for Week 10, they returned to the dance floor for the new Instant Dance.
Now, after viewers called for more twists, producers confirmed further surprises are planned.
Musicals Week will introduce viewers to another unprecedented Strictly moment: a completely new high-stakes dance challenge, with additional information to be announced shortly.
Amy Dowden gives health update
Amy Dowden has given a health update after dropping out early on Strictly Come Dancing this year. The 35-year-old professional dancer has batted cancer and severe infection in recent years.
The Welsh star, who has featured among the dancers of Strictly since 2017, chronicled her health battles after revealing in May 2023 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. While Amy was told by doctors in February 2024 that there was “no sign of the disease”, she has continued to undergo medical treatments.
Earlier this month, Amy revealed that she was undergoing another mastectomy – but stated that the procedure had not been prompted by a new cancer diagnosis. And appearing on The One Show on Friday, Amy opened up more about her recent operation.
Show host Alex Jones asked: “We know you#ve had another op. How are you feeling?” The Strictly star then revealed: “Do you know I’m feeling really well. Thank you.”
Opening up about the surgery, Amy said: “Three weeks ago yesterday, I had another mastectomy. The first week to 10 days, a bit rough, but every day feeling better and stronger.”
Amy Dowden has opened up about her latest health challenge (Image:
It Takes Two/BBC)
Chiara Fiorillo
Show returns next Saturday
Strictly Come Dancing will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 6.50pm on Saturday.
The live show will be followed by the results show on Sunday at 7.45pm.
Chiara Fiorillo
Strictly fans are happy for Balvinder
Fans of the show have expressed their happines for Balvinder after she was saved in the dance-off once again.
“Aww, my two faves in the dance off tonight…gutted! Love them both,” one said, “so I’m sorry to see either leave, but think it was the right decision to keep Bal in on tonight’s performance.”
Another tweeted: “Fair play to Balvinder. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a celeb go through so many dance offs, normally by now they crack and mess one up!”
A third wrote: “At this rate, balvinder is queen of the dance off. I feel so bad for her but I’m happy she keeps getting saved #strictly.”
Alex was in the dance off with Balvinder Sopal (Image:
BBC/Kieron McCarron)
Chiara Fiorillo
Fans fear Johannes Radebe may leave Strictly
After Johannes Radebe thanked his Strictly family, fans on social media expressed their worries that the professional dancer might be leaving the show.
“Was that a permanent goodbye from JoJo on #StrictlyComeDancing tonight?? Sounded quite final thanking his #Strictly family,” a person tweeted.
A fan wrote: “Johannes thank you to his strictly family tonight felt a little too final for my liking.. we can’t lose him as well.”
A third said: “Why did that sound like a final goodbye from Johannes?!?”
“That’s what I thought when he was saying he’d miss his strictly family,” one more added.
Alex said Johannes will always be her friend (Image:
BBC/Kieron McCarron)
Chiara Fiorillo
Bradley Walsh drops hint he might host Strictly
Bradley Walsh has added fuel to rumours he’ll host Strictly after he was seen backstage with the show’s crew over the weekend.
The presenter, 65, is odds-on favourite to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as hosts of Strictly when they step down at the end of the current series.
Gladiators host, Bradley, is reportedly in final talks to host the primetime programme after dynamic duo, Tess and Claudia, sensationally announced they were quitting in October.
Bradley headed to the BBC studio during a break in filming ITV’s The Chase, where he posed for a selfie with the crew from the dance show. Both The Chase and Strictly are filmed at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.
Jasmine Allday
Amber’s surprise admission
Amber Davies is the first to admit she can’t believe her luck at being invited onto Strictly Come Dancing, eight years after she won Love Island.
“I’ve been a fan of Strictly all my life, so it’s an absolute honour for me. I haven’t been on telly much, I’ve been in the musical theatre world, and when I first went on telly. I was so young. So it’s lovely to be given this opportunity to show people who I am now,” she told us this week.
Amber was just 20 when she won the £50,000 prize on ITV’s Love Island with former boyfriend Kem Cetinay in 2017 and has since appeared in a string of West End musicals including 9 to 5, Back to the Future and The Great Gatsby.
Jasmine Allday
Alex exit fears
Last week, Alex sparked fears she might have to withdraw from the show. Her daughrer revealed she had a dislocated rib, worrying fans about how Alex might continue on in the competion.
“I just want to assure everyone that I am completely fine,” she had said, “It is a minor injury…it’s all part and parcel of dancing at these levels. The comment was made by my concerned and loving daughter…nothing more. I will be on the dance floor as early as tomorrow morning… rehearsing. Super excited for next week! Cha cha cha.”
Jasmine Allday
Shirley says Strictly will survive
There have been fears for what the future might hold for Strictly after Tess and Claudia confirmed they’d be leaving. However, judge Shirley Ballas insisted it will continue.
“Absolutely, it survived both Len Goodman and Sir Bruce Forsyth leaving, bless them both. Strictly is bigger than any of us – the celebrities, professionals, presenters, judges,” Shirley told Best Magazine.
“It’s like Coronation Street in that no one is bigger than the show. I will miss Tess and Claudia very much, but sometimes in people’s lives, they feel it’s time to move on, and we have to respect that.”
Jasmine Allday
Alex’s sad admission
Yesterday, as she took on her latest routine, Alex admitted she was struggling physically with the show.
“The thing is, when I’m watching the show as a member of the public, most of the time I do agree with Craig,” she said. “So now that I’m in it, I can’t go ‘Oh no, he’s talking rubbish,’ because I know myself watching the telly would agree with him.
“Also I feel like this is a time just to sort of talk to the public, actually, about where we’re all at as competitive dancers in this. And it’s never really discussed, when you’re at the sharp end, how our bodies are really suffering.”
Confessing it was tough, she said: “My 62-year-old self is saying, ‘What are you putting me through?’ But my spirit and my soul is going ‘la la la la la, I don’t want to know. I want to keep on dancing’.
“But there is a point where you go, this is what the life of a dancer is like. And all of these dancers know what I’m going though or what the other contestants are going through which is physical problems and fatigue and stuff like that – but it’s still a competition.”
Jasmine Allday
Alex and Johannes tell all
Alex and Johannes will be on the show’s sister programme Strictly: It Takes Two at some point next week, hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced.
(Image:
CREDIT LINE:BBC/Kieron McCarron)
The main BBC show will be back next weekend for Musicals Week – and a brand new dance challenge.
Jasmine Allday
Next week looms!
The remaining five couples are through to next weekend’s Musicals Week, the quarter final of the competition.
Musicals Week will also see the couples take part in another Strictly first: a brand new high-stakes dance challenge – but what does that entail?
Jasmine Allday
Johannes gets emotional
In an emotional admission, Johannes said: “I’ve never grinned as much as I have in the last few weeks.
“Thank you Alex for being a trooper, I will hold on to the memories. As far as the dancing goes, I think we’ve achieved what we wanted to achieve. These memories are just the beginning for us, we can say that we are very much a Strictly family.”
KEY EVENT
Alex heads home!
It’s been confirmed Alex has left the competition.
When asked by Tess about her time on the show, Alex said: “I had never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would last this long. It’s been just the most incredible journey for me.
“I feel quite proud of myself because I’ve learnt to dance and loved the process, I mean 100%, you can tell by my smile. Everyone always says that their dance partner is a friend for life, but JoJo really will be.”
Jasmine Allday
The judges have their say!
After both couples had danced again, the judges named their verdict.
Anton chose to save Alex and Johannes
Craig chose to save Balvinder and Julian
Motsi chose to save Balvinder and Julian
Head Judge Shirley Ballas chose to save Balvinder and Julian, sending them through to next week.
Jasmine Allday
Balvinder performs in another dance-off
It’s been her year for the dance-offs, with Balvinder having successfully made her way through the competition, despite finding herself in the dance-offs multiple times.
Judges pointed out some mistakes but also praised Balvinder
Will she be safe this time? Only time will tell!
Jasmine Allday
Alex performs again
Alex has taken to the dancefloor with her routine once again – after making many mistakes during yesterday’s live show.
The pair performed again to Ring My Bell, as Balvinder prepared to dance again.
KEY EVENT
Katya and Lewis respond to cheat claims
Lewis and Katya had been accused of ‘cheating’ when Katya showed off a move she wanted to Lewis to do during their routine whilst they were separated on opposite sets of stars.
During a chat with Claudia, Katya said she had told Lewis if he saw her do that positioning with her leg then he needed to jump through it, amid fans concerned over their ‘cheating’.
Angry fans had fumed over the move, with one sharing: “”No conferring till the 10 seconds yet Katya does this to indicate to Lewis to jump through her leg like on Blackpool night. I’m sorry but that is cheating in the instant dance plain and simple #StrictlyComeDancing.”
KEY EVENT
Dance-off stars confirmed!
It has now been revealed that Balvinder and Alex will be in the dance-off.
This means George and Lewis are safe and into Musicals week!
Jasmine Allday
Oti Mabuse ‘returns’!
It’s time for our professional dancers routine of the night, which has been choreographed by former Strictly star Oti Mabuse.
The star has remained close with her fellow Strictly family, and of course, her own sister Motsi Mabuse is on the judging panel. She has choreographed this beautiful routine about a couple falling in and out of love.
Jasmine Allday
Karen’s special message
Karen got a special message from her fellow Lionesses, including Ella Toone and Lucy Bronze.
She danced her Couples Choice this week, a routine about her success and career so far – so she was thrilled to hear from her fellow footballing stars!
Jasmine Allday
Shirley has casting vote
Shirley admitted it wasn’t the nicest place for her to be to have the casting vote, where she joked she was hopeful they would all agree so she wouldn’t have to be the one to send someone home.
Anton admitted that it wasn’t a perfect night for some of the celebrities and he was hopeful that if they were in the dance off, they’d have a chance to prove how good they really were.
KEY EVENT
First couples safe!
Karen and Carlos were the first pairing to be named safe by host Tess Daly.
The second couple to compete next week was then announced to be Amber and Nikita.
Jasmine Allday
Week 10 recap
Motsi Mabuse described the evening as “off the charts”. Anton du Beke backed the new Instant Dance format, with the six extra marks on offer meaning the leaderboard changed.
The judges said they were worried for George who was “too hard on himself” whilst the judges pointed out Balvinder’s mistakes. She said the Instant Dance gave her time to come back and enjoy the show!
Jasmine Allday
Strictly leaderboard
As we wait to find out whao is leaving and how the audience voted, the leaderboard looked like this last night:
Lewis and Katya – 82
Karen and Carlos – 80
Amber and Nikita – 80
George and Alexis – 75
Balvinder and Julian – 66
Alex and Johannes – 61
George Clarke opens up on mum’s health
Strictly star George Clarke is impressing in the ballroom – but away from that, his mum is battling poor health.
But perhaps the most emotional part of George’s Strictly journey is doing it for his mum, who was diagnosed with cancer recently. “She’s class,” he says. “She just asks: ‘Are you eating enough? How’s your dance this week?’ It just shows the sort of person she is.”
George revealed the news in a VT on the show. The TikTok sensation disclosed it wasn’t the first time his mum has faced health issues. Speaking directly to the camera, George said: “Unfortunately, recently she got diagnosed with cancer. Nobody deserves what she has gone through, but least of all her. It feels like it’s taking up so much of her life now.”
Strictly ‘fix’ row
Some viewers were left frustrated after they accused frontrunners Lewis Cope and Katya Jones of cheating.
(Image:
BBC)
In scenes, which some viewers branded ‘carnage’, the couples raced into position after being given their dance. However, while Lewis stood on the stairs ahead of the jive, Katya appeared to demonstrate a move with her arm and her leg, which some fans reckon was a ‘secret signal’.
One viewer wrote on X: “No conferring till the 10 seconds yet Katya does this to indicate to Lewis to jump through her leg like on Blackpool night. I’m sorry but that is cheating in the instant dance plain and simple #StrictlyComeDancing.”
Strictly spoiler leaves fans ‘absolutely devastated’
Whilst we are yet to find out who has left the competition, the exit was already filmed on Saturday evening.
As happens every week, the Strictly spoiler has been revealed and fans have been left stunned. The Mirror has chosen not to state the name given, but fans have reacted to the supposed result online.
One fan said: “Holy – that I was NOT expecting. absolutely the correct decision though.” Another said: “I can’t believe it!!!!! I’m absolutely devastated.”
A third fan said: “I am gutted with this elimination,” while one fan said: “Not the biggest surprise after this evening’s show, but overall they have been lovely to watch.” Another added: “Absolutely the right decision.”
