Strictly Come Dancing fans have tipped 'underrated' contestant Tabby Stoecker as a potential winner of the BBC show, despite two other couples sharing the top of the leaderboard during Icons Week.
Icons Week leaderboard
The October 17 episode saw celebrities and their professional partners take inspiration from legendary performers. By the end of the show, Love Island star Cach Mercer and partner Maddie Ingoldsby were tied for first place with 34 points after a Foxtrot, scoring 8, 9, 8 and 9 from the judges.
Actress Jaime Winstone, who had been in the bottom two earlier in the series, also topped the leaderboard with partner Carlos Gu following a David Bowie-inspired Paso Doble, earning the same 34 points (8, 9, 8, 9).
Fan support for Tabby
Despite the top-two finish, many viewers believe Tabby Stoecker, a 25-year-old British skeleton racer, could claim the glitterball. During the broadcast, one supporter wrote on X: "Tabby's becoming one of my favourite contestants in this competition, she's delivering in these dances and got potential winner written all over her."
Tabby and her professional partner Mark Karmalita scored 29 points for their Samba, placing them joint fifth alongside Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola and John Nellis and Katya Jones. She has not yet topped the leaderboard outright, though she came close in Week 3 with an Argentine Tango, finishing joint second with 31 points, two behind Delta Goodrem's 33.
Other social media users agreed with the prediction, with one commenting: "Same, I had no idea who she was before strictly but she quickly became my fave celebrity I absolutely love her!" Another added: "Tabby and Mark, I am obsessed!" A third wrote: "Oh, Tabby is that diva," while a fourth said: "Tabby is the underrated star of the series."
Not all viewers were convinced, however. One wrote: "Tabby, Cach, and Delta (if she comes back) are finalist material in my opinion," while another said: "Would love to see Tabby win but, I think Lacey (Turner) might beat her."
Delta's absence and next steps
Delta Goodrem was absent from the episode due to a painful rib injury and was granted a bye through to Week 5 under Strictly regulations. Medical professionals advised rest, and both Delta and the BBC confirmed she is expected to return next week if recovery goes well. Her partner Kai Widdrington also confirmed the comeback plans on It Takes Two on October 16.
Strictly Come Dancing airs tonight at 7:10 pm on BBC One and is available to stream live or on-demand via BBC iPlayer.
