Strictly Come Dancing is back and after a first show full of surprises, the bookies have revealed who they think is most likely to win the series in 2018.
YouTuber Joe Sugg has emerged as an early favourite after the 27-year-old impressed the Strictly judges and the audience with a superb jive.
Journalist and documentary maker Stacey Dooley, dancing with pro favourite Kevin Clifton, did a fantastic quick step and has been tipped to win the BBC show.
And American singer songwriter Ashley Roberts, dancing with Pasha Kovelev, showed off her dance prowess to top the leaderboard after week one, alongside Faye Tozer of Steps fame.
At the other end of the leaderboard, Susannah Constantine is bottom and favourite to be voted off first after partner Anton du Beke was slammed by fans for their 'pantomime' routine in week one.
Susannah took home the third lowest score ever to be scored on the show, when she got a score of 12 for her Samba in week one.
Comedian Seann Walsh is the second favourite to be voted off first after having failed to impress the judges with his debut dance.
Last year Holby City's Joe McFadden seized the Glitterball trophy, but now the 15 new amateurs are all competing to get their hands on it.
For the fifth consecutive year running Claudia Winkleman joins Tess Daly on presenting duties, while head judge Shirley Ballas leads a cast of judging favourites Bruno Tonioli , Darcey Bussell and the much-feared Craig Revel Horwood.
The Strictly odds
Oddschecker has rounded up the odds from bookies across the UK and puts Stacey Dooley as odds on favourite to win the show, with highest odds of 5/1 from Bet365 .
Ashley Roberts is second favourite, with highest odds of 11/2 from Betfred , while Joe Sugg is in very close third place with highest odds of 6/1 from Betway .
He had been at 16/1 before his first performance, yet his impressive performance on last weekend’s episode drastically improved his odds.
“Joe Sugg was a complete unknown quantity, but there is no doubt now that he is a contender,” William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams told the Express .
“We expect his many followers to vote hard and he could be very difficult to beat.”
In fourth place is TV and radio presenter Vick Hope, with partner Graziano Di Prima, who could get you highest odds of 8/1 from Ladbrokes .
Faye Tozer, dancing with Giovanni Pernice, and Paralympian Lauren Steadman, with A J Pritchard, both have best odds of 10/1.
Red Dwarf Star Danny John-Jules, and Eastenders actor Charles Venn, dancing with Karen Clifton, are on 12/1.
You can get odds of 20/1 on Dr Ranj Singh, who put in a surprise performance in week one, winning the show.
Former model Katie Piper, who was visibly nervous at the start, and partner Gorka Marquez, along with ex-cricketer Graeme Swann and boyband member Lee Ryan are all on 25/1.
Favourites to crash out early include journalist Kate Silverton, with odds of 80/1 to win, comedian Seann Walsh, whose best odds are 100/1 and Susannah Constantine, with the highest odds of 250/1 to win.
The full Strictly line-up
Susannah Constantine
Mum of three Susannah was the final Strictly star confirmed.
The telly star said: “I hope to prove pigs can fly (dance). Sick with nerves and jangling with excitement.”
Susannah, 56, is a television presenter, fashion journalist, style advisor, author and designer.
Susannah began her career working in fashion for Giorgio Armani and John Galliano before she met Trinny Woodall in 1994, with whom she proceeded to write a weekly fashion column for the Daily Telegraph which ran for seven years.
The pair went on to co-host the hugely successful BBC One show ‘What Not to Wear’ from 2001 to 2005 and then moved to ITV to make Trinny & Susannah Undress, and Undress the Nation, they also frequently appeared as makeover stylists on The Oprah Winfrey show.
It is estimated that Trinny & Susannah’s various style advice books have sold in excess of 2.5 million copies in Britain and the United States.
Susannah's debut novel, After the Snow, was published to great acclaim last year and the paperback is out this autumn, she is currently writing the sequel which is due out in 2019.
Susannah has been paired with Anton du Beke.
Charles Venn
Former EastEnders star Charles Venn was the fourteenth celebrity confirmed for the brand new series of Strictly Come Dancing .
Charles, who played Kim Fox' love interest Ray Dixon in EastEnders, said he was thrilled to don his dancing shoes.
The 45-year-old said: “It truly is a pleasure to be a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, to be associated with a show that has such a huge following excites and scares me in equal measure!
"Dancing on Strictly is going to be quite a challenge but life’s all about testing yourself so there’s lots to look forward to, let the games begin..!”
Dad of two Charles also played nurse Jacob Masters in Casualty and Tremaine Gidigbi in Footballers’ Wives. The news was revealed this morning on ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
Lauren Steadman
Paralympian Lauren Steadman has become the 13th celebrity to be announced.
Lauren is a double World Champian Paratriathlete, Paralympic Silver medallist and six times European Champion.
The Paralympian was born without her lower right arm, but she relishes in overcoming these barriers and started her sporting career in swimming at age 11.
She took part in her first international competition when she was 13 and at 14, she went to the Beijing Paralympic Games, switching from swimming to triathlon after London 2012.
Lee Ryan
Blue singer Lee Ryan was unveiled on Loose Women as one of the contestants for Strictly.
Panelists Jane Moore and Stacey Solomon helped him walk down the aisle in the studio while he wore a sparkling helmet to conceal his identity.
After much teasing of the secret, Lee removed his disguise. He confessed to the ladies that he used to run out of dance lessons at performing arts school, so he'll be facing his fears taking part in the show.
He's already had some training though from bandmate Simon Webbe, who took part in Strictly in 2014.
Seann Walsh
Comedian Sean, 32, is excited to be taking part - but is more than a bit scared.
He said: "Having seen videos of me dancing on friends’ phones from the night before, it’s safe to say I’m petrified but also so excited.
"I’m really looking forward to the lifts, the Lycra and the laughs, although as Craig would probably say 'dancing is no laughing matter dahhhhling…’”
Kate Silverton
News broadcaster Kate Silverton , a familiar face on BBC News, has signed up for the BBC dancing competition.
Bosses have been trying for years to recruit the mum-of-two, 48, who is big fan of the show.
An insider told The Sun: “Kate has been at the top of the producers' wish list for more than a decade.
“But she has always put her career and family above everything.
"Now she’s polishing off her dancing shoes and can’t wait to get started."
Kate has been paired with Aljaz Škorjanec.
Ashley Roberts
Former Pussycat Doll Ashley was the ninth celeb confirmed for the show.
A source told the Mirror: “Ashley is already a hot favourite because of her dance experience with the Dolls as well as having trained as a dancer.
"Although she might not have done much ballroom or Latin, being able to pick up choreography quickly as well as her rhythm is sure to give her an edge.”
Stacey Dooley
The eighth celebrity to be confirmed was Stacey Dooley.
The documentary presenter, 31, said she was delighted to take part and joked her mum was going to 'explode' in excitement.
Stacey is one of the most celebrated documentary presenters on the BBC.
She found fame in 2008 when she was flown to developing countries along with other young Brits to investigate working conditions in factories for Blood, Sweet And T-Shirts.
The then-21-year-old star impressed TV bosses so much she was offered her own BBC3 series Stacey Dooley Investigates in 2009.
For the series, Stacey has interviewed criminals, child soldiers, drug dealers and prostitutes in far-flung locations such as Kenya, Congo, Cambodia and Mexico.
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Dr Ranj Singh
Famous for sharing his medical advice on the ITV sofa and singing to children about illness on CBeebies, the doctor will be swapping his stethoscope for the sequins.
He is hoping to get pulses racing as he follows in the footsteps of This Morning Ruth Langsford onto the Saturday night show.
An insider told the Mirror: “He’s a housewives’ favourite on ITV daytime so he’s sure to have big support when he takes to the dancefloor.”
Graeme Swann
Graeme Swann is the latest cricket star to don his dancing shoes in a bid to win the glitterball.
The England cricketer, 39, will follow in the footsteps of Mark Ramprakash, who won Strictly in 2006, and Darren Gough of the 2005 series.
Aside from his success on the pitch, Graeme is known for his antics off-field.
In 2011 he was cleared of drink-driving after getting stopped by police on his way to a supermarket the previous year.
He told them he was on his way to a 24-hour supermarket to buy screwdrivers - as his cat was stuck under his floorboards.
Vick Hope
DJ Vick Hope announced her time on Strictly during her Capital radio show on August 15.
The glam DJ won't be hit by the Strictly curse as she dumped her long-term boyfriend just before signing up for the hit celebrity dance show.
The Sunday Mirror revealed Vick waltzed off from ex Tom Rosenthal, star of series Plebs, blaming a “quarter life crisis” for the change of heart.
She’s also admitted to being at a crossroads about her career, and yearned for a job where she could learn something new every day - with Strictly Come Dancing fitting the bill exactly.
Vick has been paired with new dancer Graziano Di Prima.
Joe Sugg
YouTube sensation Joe is the fourth star confirmed for the line-up.
The 26-year-old social media star goes by the name ThatcherJoe on his YouTube channels and is the younger brother of millionaire YouTuber Zoe Sugg - who goes by Zoella.
Zoella and her boyfriend, YouTube star Alfie Deyes, are also apparently set to attend the show "every week" to support her brother.
Joe has more than 25million subscribers across his channels - giving him plenty of welly when it comes to the Strictly voting process.
"My knowledge of dance isn't the best, so I'm just going to go into it completely open minded," he admitted ahead of the launch.
And as for his impending Strictly makeover? "I do feel pretty nervous about it. I just hope they have child sizes as I'm tiny!"
Danny John-Jules
Red Dwarf star Danny will be donning his dancing shoes for the BBC competition this year.
Speaking ahead of his appearance on the show, Danny said: "Having spent the last few months on two wheels motorcycling around South America in pink leathers, I’m absolutely delighted to be getting back on two feet and into something more comfortable like glittery spandex."
Danny, 57, is best known for playing Cat in sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf, however has starred in a number of other BBC series including Death In Paradise and CBBC's M.I. High.
He also has 25 years’ experience in dance and starred in Starlight Express.
Faye Tozer
Steps singer Faye has signed up this year , and sources say she'll be a real contender
Faye is no stranger to the West End having starred in many theatrical productions - including an Andrew Lloyd Webber produced one-woman musical.
Faye, 42, has been married to second husband Michael Smith for nine years.
Bandmate Claire Richards, 40, dismissed any chances of falling for the Strictly curse, telling the Sunday People: “Oh God, everybody talks about things like that all the time.
"I was at her wedding and she is very happily married. She will be amazing on it.”
Katie Piper
Katie has been confirmed as the first contestant to feature in the 2018 series. Sharing the news on BBC Breakfast on August 13, she said, "Thank you so much, it's been so hard to keep it secret!"
"The only person I told is my husband through text message and he thought I was joking!" she revealed, admitting she's worried about her last of natural rhythm.
"I already know how much of an amazing experience it will be for me and I can't wait to show my girls some of my new dance moves," the mother-of-two said.
"I'm nervous to put on my dancing shoes but can't wait to learn a new skill and have the Strictly tan and makeover!"
FAQs
Who is Favourite for Strictly Come Dancing? ›
Hamza Yassin Is The Frontrunner To Win Strictly 2022.
What was full result of Strictly Come Dancing? ›In an extraordinarily close final, it was early favourite Hamza Yassin who ultimately won over the public and lifted that famous glitterball trophy, along with partner Jowita Przystal.
Who got the highest score on Strictly Come Dancing? ›After another brilliant season, Strictly Come Dancing will crown its 2022 winners tonight as the final four will take to the Ballroom floor. Last week, Hamza Yassin topped the leaderboard, with an amazing score of 76 after combined results of 39 and 37.
Has there ever been a 1 on Strictly Come Dancing? ›Still, no one has ever come close to Quentin Wilson's first and only performance back in 2004. The former Top Gear star holds a few unenviable Strictly records, including the lowest ever score from the judges, the only single-digit score and the only time more than one member of the panel has given out a “1”.
Who is favourite to be eliminated from Strictly? ›Former England football captain Tony Adams is the clear bookies favourite to become the first celebrity eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2022.
Who is the favorite to win Strictly 2023? ›Peter Crouch is the bookies favourite to be a contestant on next year's Strictly Come Dancing.
What did Hamza say when he won Strictly? ›He turned to his professional dance partner and told her: "You are an angel disguised as a human being." The Strictly winner continued to say: "Thank you to everyone who voted for me. This is the best thing that has ever happened to me."
Who was kicked out of Strictly Come Dancing? ›Ellie Taylor and her dancer partner Johannes Radebe were voted out of the competition after a dance off with Fleur East and Vito Coppola.
Why was dancer crying on Strictly? ›On her radio show on Monday, Fleur detailed the reason she became emotional was she had spotted her uncle paying a poignant tribute to her late father in the audience.
What is the most watched Strictly dance? ›Danny Mac and his partner Oti Mabuse have taken the lead with over 6 million views! Their Samba to 'Magalenha' by Sergio Mendes made Strictly history as he became the first contestant to EVER score a perfect 40 for the dance!
How much do Strictly contestants get paid? ›
Unlike other reality shows, including I'm a Celebrity, each star who signs up to Strictly is given the same flat fee to appear and is unable to negotiate with producers. According to a 2021 report in The Sun, every celebrity receives £25,000 just to appear.
Who is the oldest celebrity to win Strictly Come Dancing? ›Series 18 - Bill Bailey
Bill blew everyone's socks off and became the oldest contestant in Strictly history to take home the glitterball trophy. It was a big moment for his partner Oti Mabuse too, as their victory marked her second win.
Series 14 - Ore Oduba (2016)
In the final, he topped the leaderboard scoring a near perfect 39, 40 and 40 for his last three routines and the BBC Sports presenter took the Glitterball and the title of Strictly 2016 winner.
Claudia takes a tumble
Poor Claudia couldn't even get up from the mat afterwards, and the incident left her co-star in fits of laughter while trying to introduce the next pair. "Every time you go near a prop, you let it go and it's a disaster," giggled Tess as Claudia was dragged off screen.
'I was partnered with the shortest professional, Sasha Farber, and because he is 5ft 7in, it meant that I was up to his chest at least.
Is Strictly losing viewers? ›Viewing figures for this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing have already fallen from those in 2021, dropping down from 7.9m to an average of 6.8m.
Who are the four semi finalists in Strictly? ›- Helen Skelton - TV Presenter.
- Hamza Yassin - Wildlife cameraman.
- Fleur East - Singer.
- Molly Rainford - TV and radio presenter.
Who will be performing at the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour 2023? To the delight of many Strictly fans, TV and radio presenter, Fleur East and TV presenter, Helen Skelton will be joining winner Hamza and runner-up, Molly, this year along.
Who was first to be knocked out of Strictly? ›Loose Women star Kaye Adams has become the first celebrity to depart the Strictly dancefloor. The first public vote of the 20th series saw the 59-year-old up against singer Matt Goss in the bottom two before the judges chose to send her home.
Is Hamza in a relationship with his Strictly partner? ›Hamza, 32, was described as being "besotted" with his 28-year-old dancing partner as they competed on the BBC show. However, Jowita has been secretly dating professional dancer and 2021 winner Giovanni Pernice as the loved-up couple were pictured kissing backstage.
Why is Hamza's hair so long on Strictly? ›
Strictly's Hamza Yassin explains why he hasn't cut his hair in 17 years. Strictly Come Dancing's Hamza Yassin revealed he hasn't cut his hair for 17 years as an act of rebellion against his mother.
Why is Hamza so popular on Strictly? ›Hamza Yassin has made it to the 2022 Strictly Come Dancing final alongside dance partner Jowita Przystał. The Sudanese wildlife cameraman turned TV presenter, 32, has been a fan favourite from day one, with his infectious positivity, strong work ethic and willingness to fully immerse himself into his new dance journey.
Who was the last celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing? ›James Bye is the latest celeb to leave the Strictly ballroom.
What was Fleur's mistake in the dance off? ›During the dance off, Fleur East slipped and fell backwards, with a look of panic on her face, and none of the four judges mentioned it as they all unanimously voted to save her and Vito and send James and Amy home instead.
Who is the fourth celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing? ›Adams bowed out dancing to a Victoria Wood classic. Comedian and actor Jayde Adams has become the fourth contestant to leave Strictly Come Dancing 2022, after finding herself in the dance-off against Molly Rainford.
What did Gordon Ramsay say about Strictly Come Dancing? ›Speaking on The Jonathan Ross show, he said: "I would love to dance but I've got a huge problem – I've got size 15 feet. "Tilly did it last year and she was amazing. I don't know. Those dancers are amazing.
Do Strictly dancers get paid per episode? ›While the BBC has never confirmed each professional dancer's salary, it has been widely reported that each one is paid a flat fee of between £35,000 to £50,000 to appear on the show.
How does the deaf girl hear the music on Strictly? ›"I have a hearing aid, so I pick up some of the music and I can hear the beat. I can hear someone singing, but I can't identify exact words. I also feel the vibrations." Strictly is performed in front of a live band, conducted by the brilliant Dave Arch and the music can be felt through the dance floor in the studio.
Who is most popular celebrity on Strictly? ›The research revealed that Dianne Buswell is the most influential professional dancer on Strictly and the most influential 2022 cast member overall, ranking higher than all this year's celebrity contestants.
Which is better Strictly or Dancing with the Stars? ›Strictly seems to offer more constructive criticism which focuses more on the dancing, with corrections to footwork and top line quite common. Dancing With The Stars relishes in the glamour!
Are Strictly dancers the best in the world? ›
Strictly Stars. The Strictly Dancers truly are some of the best professional dancers in the World; from World, European & British Champions to Stars of Stage & Screen – Strictly has got them all….
What do the Strictly dancers do for the rest of the year? ›However, each dancer gets several opportunities to top this up, on the Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals tour as well as in stage shows, musicals and theatre productions. Many of the professionals take part in P&O cruise tours, which can reportedly earn as much as £90,000 in just 12 weeks.
Do Strictly dancers get paid more the longer they stay in? ›Those who remain in the competition until the quarter-final receive £60,000, with the semi-finalists bringing home £75,000. The winner of Strictly doesn't just get to bring home the coveted Glitterball trophy. They go home with a whopping £100,000. However, the hefty fees don't come without a price.
Do Strictly professionals get paid if they win? ›Celebrities can reportedly earn upwards of £25,000
Following this, a celebrity can reportedly earn £60,000 for getting to the quarter-finals, £75,000 for the semi-finals, and a whopping £100,000 if they take home the iconic Strictly glitterball.
- FOXTROT - 21.7% land in the bottom two.
- TANGO - 21.5% land in the bottom two. ...
- VIENNESE WALTZ - 21.5% land in the bottom two. ...
- QUICKSTEP - 17.2% land in the bottom two. ...
- CHARLESTON - 16.17% land in the bottom two. ...
Jason Gilkison has been the director of choreography on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing for the past decade.
Who was the first deaf dancer on Strictly Come Dancing? ›In 2021, Ayling-Ellis became the first deaf contestant on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. She participated in and won the show's nineteenth series, with professional Giovanni Pernice. In an interview before the start of the series, she said: I have a hearing aid, so I pick up some of the music and I can hear the beat.
Who is the most qualified dancer on Strictly? ›Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova are the most successful male and female professionals in the history of Strictly Come Dancing, having starred in 6 series and won 7 Trophies between them! Now, they are known across the globe as Judges & Choreographers for Strictly spin off shows “Dancing with the stars”.
What was the illegal lift in Strictly Come Dancing? ›"An assisted lift is where you help someone down, say on a platform like that, or as part of a routine their foot can come off for a couple of seconds, to be assisted in that way. If you're going to show off and pose like they did and spend half an hour twirling in a beautiful position, I call that an illegal lift!
What disabled people have been on Strictly Come Dancing? ›Former Strictly pros James and Ola Jordan, Brian Fortuna and Kristina Rihanoff all took part in a series called Dancing On Wheels on BBC Three in 2010, along with disabled presenter Ade Adepitan.
Who is the best male dancer? ›
- Michael Smuin. ...
- Roberto Bolle. ...
- Savion Glover. ...
- Vaslav Nijinsky. ...
- Carlos Acosta. ...
- Iwan Wladimirowitsch Wassiljew. ...
- George de la Pena. Fun Fact No. ...
- You? These male dancers are among some of the greatest that the world has seen.
Out of the whole Strictly cast for 2022, six of the professionals are proving to be more influential than their celebrity partners. Dianne Buswell is the highest earning Strictly cast member this year, ranking above all other celebrity contestants and professionals.
Who is the tallest female professional on Strictly? ›| Nadiya Bychkova | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Ballroom and latin dancer |
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) |
| Partner | Sergey Konovaltsev (married) 2013-2015 Matija Skarabot (engaged) 2016-2021 Kai Widdrington 2022- |
| Children | 1 |
Helen Skelton - 7/4.
Who are the so called celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing? ›- Molly Rainford.
- Fleur East.
- Hamza Yassin.
- Helen Skelton.
- Will Mellor - Eliminated in Week 12.
- Kym Marsh - Eliminated in Week 11.
- Ellie Taylor - Eliminated in Week 10.
- Tyler West - Eliminated in Week 9.
Former cricketer Phil has been installed as the initial Evens favourite on I'm A Celebrity betting sites to win this first-ever series.
Has Helen Skelton walked out of Strictly? ›Strictly's Helen Skelton 'walked off' show after fleeing through fire exit during rehearsals.
Has Helen Skelton gone out of Strictly Come Dancing? ›Helen Skelton has bounced back from a tough year in her personal life and losing out in the Strictly Come Dancing final, by 'winning' the show's live tour alongside Kai Widdrington.
Do Strictly winners win money? ›One pair won Strictly Come Dancing 2022 at the conclusion of all these dancing pairs, based entirely on public votes. The Glitterball Trophy and £100,000 prize money were awarded to the winning dancing couple from Strictly 2022.
Which Strictly dancer is deaf? ›In 2021, Ayling-Ellis became the first deaf contestant on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. She participated in and won the show's nineteenth series, with professional Giovanni Pernice. In an interview before the start of the series, she said: I have a hearing aid, so I pick up some of the music and I can hear the beat.
Which Strictly couples did not get on? ›
- Lynda Bellingham & Darren Bennett (series seven, 2009) ...
- Fern Britton & Artem Chigvintsev (series ten, 2012) ...
- Judy Murray & Anton Du Beke (series twelve, 2014) ...
- Laila Rouass & Anton Du Beke (series seven, 2009)
...
2000s.
| No. | Recipient | Career |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Cruise | Actor |
| 2 | The Rolling Stones | Musicians |
| 3 | Oprah Winfrey | Television personality |
| 4 | U2 | Musicians |
Series 1 (2002) – Tony Blackburn
I'm a Celeb's first-ever winner has had a chequered career since being crowned King of the Jungle.
Kerry Katona
Kerry Katona was the first woman to win the show in 2004.
Giovanni Pernice is an Italian professional dancer based in the United Kingdom, best known for his appearances on the British television show Strictly Come Dancing. He is also an Italian Open Latin Dance Champion (2012), and the Guinness World Record holder for Jive kicks and flicks, as well as Charleston swivels.
Do the Strictly dancers choreograph their own dances? ›Reigning Strictly Come Dancing champion Kevin Clifton has revealed why some pro dancers choose not to seek extra help from a world class choreographer. Jason Gilkison serves as Strictly's creative director, and is on hand with his team to help with the routines in the run-up to Saturday night.
Do Strictly pros do their own choreography? ›The BBC has never officially revealed what the dancers are paid, but it has been reported that each receives a flat fee of between £35,000 to £50,000 - and that comes with a lot of hard work because professionals rehearse for up to 14 hours per day and have to choreograph the routines for their celebrity partners.