The glittering ballroom is set for another emotional goodbye as one Strictly Come Dancing celebrity faces a heartbreaking elimination this weekend, dashing their hopes of reaching the coveted semi-final.
The Frontrunners and the Underdogs
This Saturday night on BBC One, the competition intensifies as another couple will be sent home. While the show's sparkle continues, the mood is grim for one pairing in particular. According to exclusive betting odds from Betway, the competition is looking especially tough for actress Balvinder Sopal, who is the bookmakers' favourite to be eliminated with odds of 250/1 for her departure.
She is not alone in facing a challenging week. The odds also suggest a difficult path for Alex Kingston, with a 33/1 chance of leaving, and for Amber Davies, who has 20/1 odds of being eliminated before the semi-final in two weeks' time.
A Shock Reprieve and a Tearful Exit
The upcoming elimination follows a highly unusual week on the show. Last weekend, presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced that there would be no public vote or elimination. This unexpected turn of events occurred after contestant La Voix was forced to withdraw from the competition entirely.
La Voix and her professional partner, Aljaz Skorjanec, appeared on the Saturday show to explain their difficult decision. In a deeply emotional moment, La Voix broke down in tears, stating, "I came into the show as a minority, as a redhead, and you've all embraced me wonderfully." She expressed her profound gratitude to the audience and crew, adding, "I cannot thank you enough... this is not how I wanted my journey to end." She ended her speech with a characteristically warm and humorous note, joking that her departure "at least gives someone else in this competition a chance to win."
Who Will Lift the Glitterball Trophy?
While some face an uncertain future, the current frontrunners tipped to make it all the way to the final are clear. The top three celebrities predicted to be competing for the Glitterball Trophy are George Clarke, Karen Carney, and Lewis Cope.
As the remaining couples prepare for their next performance, the pressure is mounting. This weekend's results will definitively shape the line-up for the semi-final, leaving one celebrity's Strictly dream in tatters. Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday on BBC One.
