Who was the first Celebrity to leave Strictly this year?

The glitter had barely settled on Movie Week before the harsh reality of the ballroom took over. On Sunday night, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton became the very first star to be eliminated from this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing, hanging up his dance shoes alongside professional partner Amy Dowden.

For 43-year-old Chris, standard styling tools were replaced by high-stakes choreography, leaving him well outside his usual comfort zone. Despite bringing lifeguard energy to the floor with a Cha-cha-cha to Baywatch’s “I’m Always Here,” their routine failed to stay afloat with the judges, scoring just 17 points and leaving them dangerously near the bottom of the leaderboard.

That score landed Chris and Amy in the dreaded dance-off against actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu, who performed their own Cha-cha-cha to Pretty Woman. When the spotlights dimmed for the final decision, judges Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke voted unanimously to save Jaime and Carlos. The 3-0 sweep meant head judge Craig Revel Horwood didn’t need to cast a deciding vote, though host Emma Willis noted he would have concurred with his colleagues.

Reflecting on his brief stint, an emotional Chris shared how profoundly the experience had pushed him. Having spent decades mastering his craft as a stylist, stepping onto the BBC dance floor demanded a completely different kind of vulnerability. “It challenged me in ways I never knew I could be challenged,” he admitted, adding that while he wished he could have taken Amy further, he felt immense pride in having been part of a show he grew up watching.

For Amy, the sadness of an early exit was tempered by a genuine bond. Heartbroken to see their run cut short after just two weeks, she praised Chris’s growing confidence and declared she had gained “a friend for life.”

While the results show delivered heartbreak for one duo, Saturday’s performance night had provided plenty of cinematic drama at the top of the board:

 Top spot triumphs: Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington surged into first place overall. Soaring from last week’s second-place finish, their breathtaking American Smooth to A Star Is Born’s “I’ll Never Love Again” earned 30 points, bringing their combined two-week total to a commanding 59.

 The high score of the night: Dog trainer Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley delivered the evening’s highest individual score—a stunning 31 points for their Godfather Waltz. This brought their two-week total to 55, tying them for second place with EastEnders star Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola, who picked up 28 points for their Toy Story 5 Quickstep.

 A leaderboard shakeup: Opening-week leader John Nellis couldn’t maintain his momentum. After scoring 31 in week one, his Titanic-themed Couple’s Choice with Katya Jones scored 23 points, dropping them down the ranks.

 At the bottom: Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec found themselves at the base of the board after scoring 15 points for their Sound of Music Waltz—mirroring their week-one total.

With the first couple officially departing the ballroom, the remaining 14 couples now turn their attention to next Saturday, when they return to compete live on BBC One.

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