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Strictly Come Dancing Leaderboard Analysis: Amber Davies Takes Lead as Competition Intensifies By BBC News Dance Correspondent The second week of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing 2025 series has resulted in a significant shift on the overall leaderboard, with actress Amber Davies and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin climbing to the top spot following the first combined public and judges’ votes. The highly competitive week also saw a record high score awarded for a single routine, alongside the first, somewhat surprising, elimination of the series. Davies, a former West End performer, secured the leading position after adding 29 points from the judges for her Week Two Samba to her opening score of 27, resulting in a combined total of 56. The achievement places her marginally ahead of actor Lewis Cope and Katya Jones (55 points) and architect George Clarke and Alexis Warr (54 points), demonstrating that consistency is proving key in the early stages of the competition. High Scores and Sudden Shifts While Amber Davies celebrated leading the pack, the highest individual score of Week Two was secured by Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe, who were awarded an impressive 31 points for their dynamic Samba. This marks a notable recovery from their Week One score of 21 and demonstrates the potential for rapid improvement among the celebrities. Head judge Shirley Ballas praised the performance, describing it as one of the best Sambas seen on the show in recent series. The middle section of the leaderboard, however, remains volatile, highlighting the pressure faced by contestants to maintain momentum across different dance styles. Former Lioness Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, who opened the competition strongly with an initial score of 31, saw a sharp drop in Week Two, scoring 20 for their Tango.
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This fluctuation placed them in sixth position overall (51 points), underscoring the demanding nature of adapting to both Latin and Ballroom disciplines week-on-week. EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon delivered one of the most remarkable turnarounds, almost doubling their initial score from 17 to 30 for their energetic Charleston. Their performance, which earned a standing ovation from some sections of the studio audience, suggests that early-series low scores do not necessarily dictate future performance, a trend familiar to long-time viewers of the competition. First Exit: Skinner and Dowden Depart The introduction of the first public vote inevitably brought the first elimination of the series. Following the dance-off, businessman and former Apprentice contestant Thomas Skinner and his partner Amy Dowden became the first couple to depart the 2025 competition. Skinner and Dowden faced former England rugby star Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova in the bottom two, with both pairs performing their respective routines for the judges a second time. Skinner and Dowden repeated their Salsa to “Bonkers,” while Robshaw and Bychkova performed their Viennese Waltz. The judges were unanimous in their decision to save Robshaw and Bychkova. Speaking about the decision, Head Judge Shirley Ballas commented that while both couples showed commitment, Robshaw’s Viennese Waltz displayed superior technical execution and control, securing his place in the next round.
The critiques for Skinner’s routine had been particularly sharp in the main show. Judge Craig Revel Horwood’s assessment was typically direct, stating the Salsa “looked like you were competing at a weightlifting competition in Skegness, darling, it was all just powerlifts. ” Upon his departure, Skinner graciously reflected on his experience, noting his gratitude to his partner. “I’ve loved it. I’ve never danced before and my stay was short but Amy’s amazing. I can’t really dance that well but I’ve had great fun,” he commented. Judges' Critiques Under Scrutiny Beyond the scores, the judging panel’s commentary drew considerable public attention this week, particularly concerning feedback directed towards Karen Carney. Carney, in a pre-recorded video segment, disclosed that she has a naturally curved spine, which poses specific challenges for the posture required in certain Ballroom dances, such as the Tango. Judge Motsi Mabuse’s subsequent comment, suggesting that the couple needed to “challenge” this specific structural difficulty, garnered criticism on social media platforms, with some viewers describing the remarks as “ignorant” or “insensitive” given the physical nature of the condition.
While the intention of the judge may have been to push for professional adaptation, the phrasing led to a debate online regarding the balance between high expectation and physical reality within the competition. Outlook for Movie Week As the series heads into the highly anticipated Movie Week, the true test of public popularity now begins for the remaining fourteen couples. The combined total scores from the first two weeks determine the initial placement, but the public vote holds ultimate power in dictating who faces the dance-off. Couples at the lower end of the cumulative leaderboard, such as showbiz reporter Ross King and Jowita Przystał (25 points) and Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova (30 points), will be under intense pressure. Experts suggest that a memorable, high-impact routine this weekend is essential for those couples relying on the public vote to counterbalance lower judges' marks. The leaderboard has set a high bar for technical quality; the challenge now is for the contestants to translate technical competence into public connection. The stakes are now higher than ever as the 2025 series truly gets underway. Source note: This report is based on the published cumulative judges’ scores for Week One and Week Two of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 series, and official BBC and contestant statements regarding the first elimination.
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