We’re tracking the 2022 Strictly Come Dancing odds to see who are the leading contenders to claim this year’s Glitterball Trophy.
The first live show of the new series attracted a peak audience of 7.2 million viewers, with 15 couples battling it out on the dancefloor.
Here are the performers expected to challenge for top honours:
WILL MELLOR @ 7/4
Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps star Mellor saw his Strictly 2022 odds tumble after he performed an electric jive to Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin with his partner Nancy Xu which impressed judges Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas so much that they gave him a standing ovation. The actor finished joint top of the leaderboard with an impressive score of 34. Mabuse questioned where Mellor had learnt his hip movements as she exclaimed: “You surprised me, I’m speechless. That was fantastic. Best start ever.” Anton Du Beke said that it looked like the actor had been dancing the routine for 18 months, adding: “It was absolutely amazing.”
Wow! Will and Nancy packed all the hips, kicks and flicks into that Jive 🙌@Mellor76 @Nancy_xuxi pic.twitter.com/QZdfHGCKrz
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 24, 2022
HELEN SKELTON @ 4/1
TV presenter Skelton and Gorka Marquez delivered an elegant American Smooth for their first dance to You Send Me by Aretha Franklin, securing them a score of 26. Du Beke told Skelton to “own the dance” more but added that she was “great”.
FLEUR EAST @ 6/1
Singer East and new professional Vito Coppola posted a score of 29 for their electric cha cha cha to Let’s Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez which closed out the show. Donning a hot pink sequined outfit, East dominated the stage which caused Craig Revel Horwood to confess it was “a bit too wild” for him, but he praised her as a “fantastic dancer”. Mabuse advised her to control her sense of power and to add “a little bit of softness” into her movements.
KYM MARSH @ 8/1
Actress Marsh and Graziano Di Prima were the first couple to take to the dancefloor, achieving a score of 23 for their jive to Yes by Merry Clayton. Dressed in matching canary yellow, they twirled and dipped throughout with judge Ballas praising the Coronation Street star by saying: “What a way to open the show, that was amazing.” However, Revel Horwood described it as “sluggish” and said she needed to be up on her toes more.
HAMZA YASSIN @ 9/1
Wildlife presenter Yassin and his partner Jowita Przystal dazzled with their joyful foxtrot to Islands In The Stream by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers to match Mellor’s tally. Mabuse said: “That was exquisite.” Du Beke added: “We’ve got ourselves a ballroom dancer in the house.” That performance prompted a major shake-up in the 2022 Strictly Come Dancing odds.
Fancy footwork and a fabulous Foxtrot! Hamza and Jowita sailed through their routine 💞@HamzaYassin3 pic.twitter.com/mJB6PW8vFZ
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 24, 2022
TYLER WEST @ 11/1
Kiss FM DJ West and professional partner Dianne Buswell performed an elegant American Smooth to Falling by Harry Styles. During the routine, they attempted the challenging Angel Lift, which saw West lift and spin Buswell over his head – which secured them a score of 21. Ballas said the atmosphere they created was “stunning” while Revel Horwood felt it was “a little bit pedestrian” and lacked emotion, but added that he loved the dramatic lift.
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Strictly Come Dancing betting
