Strictly Come Dancing's 2026 winner is becoming increasingly clear after a night of two halves, with the male celebrities struggling on the scoreboard while the female stars impressed. The judges' scoring left viewers baffled, as Craig Revel-Horwood's harsh marks contrasted sharply with Anton du Beke's generous ones.
Judges' scoring divides opinion
Throughout the show, the difference in the judges' scores grew increasingly jarring; a four suggests a near-dancefloor catastrophe, but an eight is reserved for a very strong showing. The pair consistently looked like they were marking two different performances, with poor Cach Mercer one of the most noticeable victims, receiving a four from Craig while Anton handed over an eight.
Graeme Hall was similarly unfortunate, with his emotional Couple's Choice with Lauren Oakley earning a mere five from Craig, while Anton again dished out eight points. John Nellis also faced Craig's wrath, receiving four for his Salsa against Anton's seven. The mood from the booing crowd could not have been clearer, as a frustrated Craig eventually had to tell them to "shut up".
Female stars shine
Thankfully, it was a completely different story for the female celebrities. Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin were the undisputed stars, with their American Smooth combining elegance and confidence, and their score of 36 points was one of the only dances where the judges agreed.
Tabby Stoecker's fiery Paso Doble was another highlight after a slightly shaky performance last week. Lacey Turner and Delta Goodrem were also strong contenders this week, with the Glitterball potentially set to be engraved with a woman's name if the men don't improve.
Professional partnerships under scrutiny
It is also becoming increasingly obvious which professional dancers are helping their partners, and which are hindering them. Cach is actually a fantastic dancer, but each week his choreography seems to let him down, and Maddie seems to struggle to take on feedback. Lawrence Robb and Bethany Antonia were the same, with their experience on the show likely to be very different if they had been given different pros.
Presenters and judges under fire
The presenters won't be getting a big mention this week, because, frankly, there isn't much to say. They're plodding along, and Josh is trying hard but is still a noticeable fish out of water. As Emma told viewers that we're at the halfway point of the series, you could almost see the desperation in his eyes.
Craig, meanwhile, might want to remember that he is a judge, not an executioner. His sharp tongue and savage scores have long been part of the Strictly furniture, but there is a difference between being cutting and simply being mean. Judging from last night, it looks likely that a woman will be holding up the Glitterball this year.
