Strictly Come Dancing professional Katya Jones displayed "signs of misery" and appeared to expect the dance-off with celebrity partner John Nellis, according to body language expert Judi James. The pair were saved from dancing for their place last weekend, but found themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard with a score of 26.
Katya's frustration visible
Viewers saw Bethany Antonia leave the competition on November 7 after facing the dance-off alongside Cach Mercer. Katya and John were in the bottom four, yet avoided the dance-off.
Judi James, speaking to Paddy Power, said Katya's frustration was plain to see, particularly while awaiting news of whether they faced the dance-off. The expert noted that other professional dancers adopted more stoic poses and looked ready to console their celebrities.
Signals of growing misery
Judi explained that Katya has frequently transformed hopeless cases into potential champions through determination and hard work, but commented: "But she seems to have met her match in John. John didn't look like a likely winner this season, but his first dance showed off some strong potential."
She added: "Since then, though, he appears to be stalling or slipping, and through no obvious fault of Katya or himself. If they're not careful, he could be caught in a Strictly 'death spiral'."
Judi observed that Katya stood in front of John with his hands on her shoulders, with John looking like the one ready to offer support and consolation. She said Katya gazed straight ahead before looking down in a cut-off ritual with her lips closed and the corners of her mouth drooping.
Fighting back next week
When Bethany and Nancy's names were called out first, Katya twisted into "an expression of pain". When the second announcement came, Judi noticed her face creasing "into an expression of agony", with John stepping in to comfort her.
Judi added: "Katya is a trooper, and she will be fighting back with John next week, but it might be hard for her to find a way to get him out of the stall and the decline that he seems to be in right now."
Katya and John are at the foot of last weekend's leaderboard alongside Cach Mercer, having received a score of 26 from the judges. The standings are set to shift once more on Saturday night (November 14) as the celebrities and professionals take on brand new routines. Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday on BBC One from 6:25pm.
