TV personality Chris Appleton and professional partner Amy Dowden have become the first couple to leave Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
The pair were voted out of the competition after landing in Sunday's dance-off against actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu.
Low Scores Lead to Dance-Off
Appleton and Dowden had found themselves in danger after receiving one of the lowest combined totals from the judges and public vote following Saturday night's Movie Week special.
The couple scored 17 points for their Cha Cha Cha during the second live show, while Winstone and Gu received 21 points for their routine.
Judges' Decision
After both couples performed again in the dance-off, judges were asked to decide which pair they wanted to save and send through to next week's show.
Judges Motsi Mabuse kickstarted the countdown as she chose to save Jaime and Carlos, and she was backed up by Shirley Ballas who said: “Both couples did up their game from Saturday evening which was fantastic.
“No mistakes made, timing was great. I just feel one couple had the edge with a little bit more power, more refinement, so I will be saving Jaime and Carlos.”
After Jaime and Carlos received two saving votes, it all came down to Anton Du Beke who was the third judge to cast his vote. He said: “The couple I felt that danced the strongest and danced with the most assurance and with the greatest performance is Jaime and Carlos.”
With those words, the panel chose to keep Winstone and Gu in the competition, meaning Appleton and Dowden became the first contestants to be eliminated from this year's series.
Leaderboard and Presenting Changes
The result came after a weekend that saw dog trainer Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley top the judges' leaderboard with 31 points, followed by Australian singer Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington on 30.
Movie Week also saw a noticeable change to the show's presenting line-up after comedian Josh Widdicombe faced criticism from some viewers following his debut the previous week.
Rather than appearing alongside Emma Willis on the ballroom floor throughout the programme, Widdicombe spent much of Saturday's show in the Clauditorium-style balcony area, while Willis fronted the action downstairs.
Viewers reacted positively to the switch on social media, with many praising Willis's performance and suggesting the revised hosting arrangement worked more smoothly than the previous week.
With the first elimination now complete, the remaining 14 celebrity contestants will return to the dancefloor next weekend as the race for the Glitterball Trophy continues.
