Strictly Come Dancing fans believe Lacey Turner and Tabby Stoecker are the two celebrities most likely to win the glitterball trophy this year, with bookmakers' odds reflecting the same view.
This year's series has featured a new presenting line-up of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, which has caused a stir. Away from the host drama, 15 celebrities have been competing for the trophy, including Love Island star Cach Mercer, TV personality Dani Dyer, singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem, actress Jaime Winstone, TV dog trainer Graeme Hall, EastEnders star Lacey Turner and Olympic skeleton athlete Tabby Stoecker.
Fans Predict a Duel
After last Saturday's October 31 Halloween show, a fan on Reddit claimed the competition was turning into a 'duel' between two stars. They wrote: "Lacey's Charleston was an absolute vibe! So glad she finally had her breakthrough moment! And as much as I love Tabby, I'm glad she's had her wobble now so she can regroup and bounce back. Lacey rising, Tabby fighting back… this is turning into an exciting duel!"
Another fan agreed, writing: "I loved her Charleston and I'm not normally a big fan of the style. Lacey was so light and relaxed it was just really fun to watch. And she was nearly Katya levels of fearless with those lifts!" A third said Lacey was "fantastic", while a fourth added: "Lacey and Vito! That's what we've been waiting for."
Leaderboard Performances
Lacey, 38, and her professional partner Vito Coppola scored 36 out of 40 for their Charleston, placing them at the top of the leaderboard. Tabby, 25, had her first wobbly performance last weekend, scoring 25 out of 40 for her Quickstep, which placed her joint-bottom of the Week 6 leaderboard alongside Graeme Hall.
The week before, Tabby and her partner Mark Karmalita topped the leaderboard with 37 out of 40 for their Couple's Choice routine. Fans have been praising Tabby for weeks, with one writing last month: "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." Another added: "Same, I had no idea who she was before strictly but she quickly became my fave celebrity I absolutely love her!"
Bookmakers' Odds
Bookmakers appear to agree, with Lacey and Tabby locked in a tight battle at the top of the markets to win. While many major UK bookmakers still lean toward Lacey as the overall favourite, recent strong performances, including a pair of perfect tens, have seen Tabby surge to the top spot on several alternative trackers.
Strictly Come Dancing next airs on Saturday, 7 November 2026 at 6:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
