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Strictly Leaderboard Tonight: Amber Davies Claims Top Spot as Judge's Comments Spark Debate Former Love Island star Amber Davies and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin finished at the top of the combined Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard this weekend, following the show’s first public vote and elimination of the series. However, the evening was dominated by a landmark Samba performance and a controversial scoring decision regarding a former England Lioness. Davies and Kuzmin secured the overall lead following two weeks of competitive dancing, earning a combined total of 56 points, placing them marginally ahead of actor Lewis Cope and Katya Jones. The leaderboard standings proved crucial, combining with the public vote to determine the two couples who faced the series' first dance-off on Sunday night. The standout performance of Saturday night’s show came from actress Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe, who delivered a high-octane Samba to score 31 out of 40—the highest single score of the night. Head Judge Shirley Ballas offered rare and effusive praise, declaring it “one of the best sambas” she had witnessed performed so early in the competition. This score, a notable improvement on their week one total, catapulted them into a strong mid-table position. Dramatic Drop and Judge Scrutiny In contrast to Kingston’s success, former professional footballer Karen Carney and her partner Carlos Gu saw a significant drop in their marks.
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Having topped the leaderboard in Week 1 with a dazzling Jive that scored 31, their Tango this week only managed 20 points. The routine generated discussion on the judging panel after Carney revealed a pre-existing health condition, Scheuermann’s disease, which causes a curved spine and affects her ability to achieve the required posture for certain ballroom dances. Following the performance, judge Motsi Mabuse acknowledged the revelation but stressed the need to “challenge” the posture for the dance style. The comment immediately attracted sharp criticism on social media, with numerous viewers questioning the sensitivity of the feedback given the physical constraints. One fan, writing on X (formerly Twitter), expressed disappointment, stating: “It was an insensitive remark. She literally can't do anything about it and they were like, 'oh well, find a way. ' Awful. ” However, the scrutiny did not dampen the celebratory mood for all couples.
EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon delivered the most improved performance of the night, leaping from a score of 17 in Week 1 to 30 for their energetic Charleston. Judge Anton Du Beke highlighted the Charleston as “a revelation,” showcasing how the couples' potential is rapidly evolving. The First Elimination The accumulated points from the judges were fused with the public vote to determine the bottom two, leading to the first dance-off between businessman and reality television personality Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden, and rugby star Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova. Despite Ross King and Jowita Przystał sitting at the foot of the combined leaderboard with 25 points, the public vote saved them from the dance-off. The dance-off saw both couples reprise their Saturday routines—a Salsa for Skinner and a Viennese Waltz for Robshaw. Ultimately, the judges were unanimous in their decision to save Robshaw. Craig Revel Horwood was particularly critical of Skinner’s routine, noting that his movement was too reliant on strength, commenting: “It looked like you were competing at a weightlifting competition in Skegness, darling, it was all just powerlifts. ” Following his elimination, Thomas Skinner offered a characteristically cheerful exit statement, reflecting on his short time in the competition.
Speaking on the results show, he said: “I’ve loved it. I’ve never danced before and my stay was short, but Amy’s amazing. It’s been good fun and I’ve enjoyed it. ” Looking Ahead to Movie Week With the first couple eliminated, the competition now moves into its highly anticipated "Movie Week" special. The pressure is expected to increase significantly as the remaining celebrities attempt challenging routines inspired by iconic cinema. The tightening scores at the top of the strictly-leaderboard-tonight demonstrate the volatility of the competition, with the margin between the top and middle tiers now incredibly narrow. Experts suggest the public vote will become increasingly influential as the judges maintain high expectations for technical proficiency, even for those contending with physical challenges. The coming week's performances, particularly those from early frontrunners like Karen Carney who must now regain momentum, will be closely watched.
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