Shaun Wright-Phillips has been dealt a crushing blow just hours before the first Strictly Come Dancing elimination of the series. The former footballer is the favourite to leave this weekend, with exclusive odds from Betway giving him a 5/6 chance of being sent home.
On Sunday night, one celebrity and their professional dance partner will exit the competition, ending their hopes of lifting the Glitterball trophy. Close behind Wright-Phillips in the betting is Sarah Storey at 2/1, followed by Melanie Walters at 5/1.
Odds and contenders
Other names in the mix include Chris Appleton at 7/1, Jaime Winstone at 20/1, Will Best at 33/1, and Tabby Stoecker at 40/1. At the other end of the scale, Lacey Turner is tipped to win the 2026 competition, with odds of 5/2, beating Dani Dyer, who has been given odds of 11/2.
John Nellis is another potential winner, with odds of 3/1. Betway Spokesperson Lewis Knowles said: "Dani Dyer was our favourite going into Saturday's first live performances, but it was undoubtedly Lacey Turner's Cha-Cha-Cha that stole the show on the opening weekend."
Judges' feedback
Last weekend, the celebrities took to the dancefloor for the first time in front of the judges. When Shaun and Alexis Warr performed, they received mixed reviews. While Emma Willis seemed impressed by their moves, Motsi Mabuse offered a different view.
Mabuse told the duo: "Shaun, if there was ever a time in life to be shy, it's not today. You are so honestly-I mean this-you are so cute doing that because I can see you as a student. You're doing the footwork, you're doing the arms, you're doing everything she tells you. You're looking at the side if you're correct, and you did it all really not bad at all."
Shirley Ballas added: "I'm not worried too much about the personality. Let me tell you first of all what I was impressed with. You danced a checked forward walk, which is used to change direction, and you changed direction superbly."
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One.
