The glittering Strictly Come Dancing competition is heading for its iconic Blackpool special, but the excitement is tinged with sadness as one celebrity couple has been dealt a devastating blow.
The Blackpool Dream Shattered
With the highly-anticipated Blackpool specials just days away, the atmosphere is electric. However, the dream of performing at the legendary Blackpool Tower Ballroom will be cruelly cut short for one pairing. The identity of the eliminated couple was set to be revealed during the Results Show on Sunday, November 16.
The leaderboard from Saturday's live show left two couples in a precarious position. Vicky Pattison, who performed a Jive with professional partner Kai Widdrington, found herself at the bottom with a score of 27. Sharing the low score were Balvinder Sopal and her partner, Julian Caillon.
Who Topped the Leaderboard?
While some faced disappointment, others soared. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin topped the leaderboard with an impressive 37 points. They were closely followed by Lewis Cope and Katya Jones, who also scored 37, setting the stage for a fierce competition heading into the Blackpool week.
All Eyes on Blackpool Weekend
The spectacle of the Strictly Blackpool specials is scheduled for the weekend of November 22 and November 23. The Saturday night live show promises an unforgettable opening, featuring a performance from the pop group Steps. They will perform their biggest hits, accompanied by the professional dancers, the remaining celebrities, and the four judges.
The Sunday results show will be just as eventful. It will feature the returning finalists' routine, choreographed by Jason Gilkinson, and a special performance from singer Lewis Capaldi, who will be joined by the Strictly professional dancers.
The Deciding Vote
In a crucial twist for the elimination round leading into Blackpool, hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly confirmed that judge Craig Revel Horwood has the casting vote. This means that should the dance-off result in a tie between the judges, Craig alone will have the power to decide which couple's journey ends and which one gets to experience the magic of Blackpool.
