Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby bounced back in style to claim the top spot on the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard on Saturday night (14.11.26).
After languishing at the bottom of the standings last week with 26 points, the 25-year-old Love Island star and his 21-year-old professional partner surged into first place with a Charleston set to The Jacksons’ Blame It on the Boogie, scoring an impressive 39 points.
Craig Revel Horwood, 61, was blown away, emphatically calling the routine amazing, while 45-year-old Motsi Mabuse hailed it as the standout routine of the entire series so far.
She told the pair that they had certainly kept the panel waiting, explaining that the judges had spent the last few weeks wondering if and when they would deliver a breakthrough moment. Following a difficult previous week, Mabuse expressed her relief and delight that they finally pulled it off, crowning it her personal dance of the season.
Securing second place was Neighbours star Delta Goodrem, 42, who danced alongside Aljaž Škorjanec, 36, stepping in for an unwell Kai Widdrington, 31. Her Argentine Tango to Everything But The Girl’s Missing netted 35 points—a four-point improvement on her previous effort.
Head judge Shirley Ballas, 66, noted that there was plenty to admire in the routine, though she felt Delta could have executed her leg work with a bit more precision.
Meanwhile, Babs actress Jaime Winstone, 41, made a triumphant comeback to the BBC ballroom alongside pro partner Carlos Gu, 33, having missed last week’s show due to a torn abdominal muscle.
Their Charleston to Catherine Zeta-Jones’ I Can’t Do It Alone impressed the panel, picking up 33 points to land them in third place.
Anton Du Beke, 60, praised the routine as wonderful, though he admitted he would have considered it flawless had they left out the final spins at the close of the number.
While Cach, Delta, and Jaime celebrated at the top, three pairs found themselves tied at the very bottom of the table.
Dog trainer Graeme Hall, 60, and Lauren Oakley, 35 (Quickstep), Big Brother presenter Will Best, 41, and Dianne Buswell, 37 (Paso Doble), and EastEnders favourite Lacey Turner, 38, and Vito Coppola, 34 (Foxtrot) all struggled to win over the judges, finishing level on 27 points apiece.
The panel critiqued Lacey and Vito’s routine to Robbie Williams’ Have You Met Miss Jones?, suggesting it resembled an American Smooth rather than a traditional Foxtrot.
Vito immediately owned up to the choreography misstep, reassuring Lacey that she shouldn’t stress about the critique and praising her brilliant effort on the dancefloor.
The outcome of the public vote will be revealed during Sunday’s results show (15.11.26).