BBC Strictly Come Dancing 'shock' if one celebrity 'doesn't win' series

Strictly Come Dancing could be in for a shock at the end of the current series if one celebrity 'doesn't win' alongside their professional dance partner.

We're now at the business end of the competition following the spectacular Blackpool special over the weekend. The stars of the show and the crew responsible for getting the popular show on the TV headed for their annual jaunt up north where the show was broadcast live from the world-famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

Celebrating its 20th year, Strictly started the special show on Saturday night (November 16) started with a performance from the Pet Shop Boys, who opened with a medley of hits as the Strictly professional dancers performed a routine around them.

READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans 'sobbing' over Dianne Buswell's personal announcement on show

It was then over to the eight remaining couples to perform on the sprung floor in a bid to secure their place in week ten of the BBC One dance contest, which will take place back in the show's Elstree Studios ballroom.

Comedian Chris McCausland opened the show, delivering a classical American smooth routine to Canadian-born singer Paul Anka’s Jump with his partner Dianne Buswell, for which they were rewarded 37 points out of a possible 40, their highest of the series so far.

And leading bookmaker Coral now makes Chris McCausland as short as 1-4 in their betting to win Strictly Come Dancing 2024. The comedian has topped the outright market since week two, but this is now the shortest price he has been for the Glitterball Trophy.

Sarah Hadland is second best in the betting with the firm at 4-1, while Tasha Ghouri is 14-1 to lift the Glitterball Trophy. Both women came joint top of the leaderboard during the show's Blackpool special thanks to their performances, for which the judges individually gave them a near-perfect score of 39 points.

Motsi Mabuse described Tasha's intense and dramatic paso doble routine to Nathan Lanier’s Torn, during which professional Aljaz Skorjanec flung her through his legs, as the "dance of the night".

Meanwhile, Sarah and her partner Vito Coppola’s couple’s choice routine to Padam Padam by Kylie Minogue was described by judge Craig Revel Horwood as "a little too perfect". He told them he knew "it sounds weird", but felt that se lacked emotion, which he felt "brought you out" of the performance at moments.

Coral's John Hill said: "Our betting suggests Chris McCausland is going to take some beating in this year's Strictly series. He is now long odds-on to lift the Glitterball Trophy, and it would be a huge shock if he weren't crowned the winner."