BREAKING NEWS: Strictly star issues ‘obvious’ final verdict after launch show blow
Strictly’s former pro Vincent Simone has made his predictions for the final.
Strictly Come Dancing returned over the weekend (Image: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing’s former professional, Vincent Simone, has weighed in on Saturday’s (September 19) launch show. Up to 5.8 million tuned in as series 24 finally premiered on the BBC with the new hosting trio, Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe making their eagerly awaited debut. The exciting pre-recorded episode also unveiled the celebrity contestants and their pairings, and welcomed five new professionals to the line-up.
In a fresh move, each celebrity and professional discovered the identity of their partner in front of the Strictly studio audience during three specially choreographed group dance routines. In a fun twist, each pro would swap contestants on the host’s demand until the pairings were confirmed. With the stars all coupled up for the competition, Vincent revealed which duo he’s certain will dance their way to the final. The Italian native, who enjoyed a successful seven-season run on Strictly, told the Daily Express: “The obvious one for me is Dani and Nikita.”
Vincent starred on Strictly for seven seasons (Image: BBC)
Speaking via Paddy Games, he added: “They already have that familiarity from last year, and I think they have a very good chance of making the final.”
Also addressing this season’s only same sex duo, the dancer shared: “I would also put Will and Dianne in there, and I think there’s something really interesting about Bethany and Nancy.”
“Nancy is an amazing dancer, and, watching them together, you could see how well she was leading and taking charge. That isn’t easy. They also looked quirky and fun together, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they made the final, too.”
Following the launch show, the couples were confirmed as Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu, Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby, Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden, Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin, Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington, and Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley.
All 15 Strictly contestants have been paired up (Image: BBC)
Also paired up are Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu, John Nellis and Katya Jones, Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr, Tabby Stoecker, and Mark Karmalita.
In addition to Will Best and Dianne Buswell, Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał, Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec, Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon.
Vincent’s predictions could come true, and Dani and Nikita lifted the lid on rehearsals and explained how they adapted it to be different to last year, to avoid the same injury that forced the reality star out of the competition.
On BBC’s Morning Live, Nikita explained: “Oh, we are doing a lot of strapping. We are strapping everything. Absolutely everything.”
Dani echoed: “I’ve got, like, my tape and everything, haven’t I?” with Nikita adding: “We have a tape, then we have an ankle brace, then we have a shoe, we do exercises. We are going full out.”
