Strictly Come Dancing contestant Delta Goodrem has been ruled out of next week's show with an injury, but a body language expert has raised concerns that her self-assurance off the dance floor could also affect her chances of winning the Glitterball trophy.
The singer topped the leaderboard on Saturday with 33 points for her Salsa with partner Kai Widdrington, earning the series' first nine from judge Motsi Mabuse. However, she then revealed that an injury would prevent her from competing next weekend. Should she recover and return, reports suggest she may face significant challenges ahead.
Expert analyses Delta's body language
Body language expert Sean Johns spoke to Wales Online about how Delta's confidence away from the dance floor differs from her performing persona, noting she seems "overwhelmed". He said: "Delta topped the board with 33 on Saturday and was called safe early on Sunday. Her dancing is a frontrunner's. Her body between the dances is not."
Discussing her demeanour after her routine, he continued: "Watch her hands. From the moment she came off the floor, through the judges' comments and again when the scores came up, they kept going back to her chest, clasped together or pressed flat under her collarbone. That is self-soothing: when we are flooded, touching the chest slows the breath and settles the body."
He added: "When Shirley said 'I think you're going to go all the way', her head dropped and the hands clasped again. A head drop at praise is gratitude being held in, not a winner's pose."
Partnership with Kai reveals same pattern
Johns also analysed her partnership with Kai, saying: "When Kai told Johannes the 'circle of trust' has 'one foot in', Delta stood beside him with her fingers interlaced in front of her while he had a hand on his hip. Interlaced fingers are a way of holding ourselves; a hand on the hip is a settled, open stance."
He concluded: "He is settled. She is still holding on to herself rather than to him. That is normal at week three, but it is what decides whether the lifts get bigger or safer. My advice to Delta: let the hands rest on him, not on her own chest."
Despite the concerns, Delta remains a strong contender for the Glitterball trophy. On Instagram, she thanked her supporters: "Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us and continues to support us. It gives us all the energy to come out and dance for you every Saturday. We're so grateful."
Judge Motsi praised her Saturday routine, saying: "She brought the D.I.S.C.O. Delta, I absolutely loved that. What people don't get is that you are very tall. If I was to stand next to you, I'd be by your knees or something. But honestly, with this speed, with this rhythm, with this class, with everything you bring on the dance floor, it looks so easy."
Her one piece of advice, echoed by some fellow judges, was to keep her arms a little lower when spinning: "You are fighting, like wrestling, you don't need to do any of that." She added: "But you have been giving from week one, week two, week three, for me, this was the highlight, you did an amazing job."
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on Saturday at 6.15pm.
