In this article, we take a closer look at the betting odds for who could be the first eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
The glitterball is spinning once again as Strictly Come Dancing 2025 (Series 23) gets underway. The celebrities made their ballroom debuts in the first live show on September 27th, with scores carried over into Week 2 when the public vote officially opens.
The first elimination is set for Sunday, October 5th, meaning all eyes are on which contestant could be waving goodbye to the dance floor first.
Recap of Week 1
- Karen Carney topped the leaderboard with a sparkling 31 points.
- Lewis Cope (28), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (27), and late replacement Amber Davies (27) also impressed early.
- At the other end, Ross King found himself bottom with just 10 points, while Chris Robshaw (14) and Thomas Skinner (16) were also near the foot of the table.
- Ellie Goldstein and Balvinder Sopal each scored 17, leaving them hovering just above the danger zone.
With scores now combining with the public vote, it’s often those in the lower half of the leaderboard without a large, dedicated fanbase that become most vulnerable to a Week 2 exit.
Who is the betting favourite to be the first eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2025?
Ross King - 5/6 Favourite with Sky Bet and Paddy Power
Veteran TV presenter Ross King sits as the bookmakers’ clear favourite for first elimination, and it’s not hard to see why. Scoring just 10 points, he was rooted firmly at the bottom of the Week 1 leaderboard. At 62, King is one of the older contestants this year, and while Strictly audiences often warm to an underdog, his relatively low profile with younger viewers could leave him struggling to secure votes.
Unless he produces a dramatic turnaround on Saturday, he looks the most likely candidate for an early exit.
Thomas Skinner – 3/1 with Betfred
The businessman and TV personality Thomas Skinner also finds himself among the early outsiders. His 16-point opening left him in the bottom three, and while his energetic, larger-than-life personality has brought him headlines in the tabloids, that hasn’t yet translated into dance-floor success.
Bet365
- Slick, clean interface
- Full suite of safer gambling options including profit/loss
- Market leading all customer offers across all sports
Skinner does have higher name recognition than some of his rivals, which may give him a public-vote cushion, but if he remains at the lower end of the scoring table this weekend, he could be in serious danger of landing in the first dance-off.
Chris Robshaw – 9/2 with BetMGM
Former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw struggled in Week 1, managing just 14 points. Rugby stars have had mixed fortunes on Strictly in the past: athletic but sometimes lacking the finesse needed for Latin routines.
Robshaw has the profile to pull in some support from the sporting audience, but he doesn’t have the same built-in Strictly fanbase as contestants from entertainment or reality TV. Unless his performance shows a sharp improvement, he’s going to continue to be at the top of the Next Elimination odds boards.
| Strictly Come Dancing First Elimination | Best Odds |
|---|---|
| Ross King | 5/6 |
| Thomas Skinner | 3/1 |
| Chris Robshaw | 9/2 |
| Stefan Dennis | 16/1 |
| Ellie Goldstein | 25/1 |
Who is the betting favourite to win Strictly Come Dancing 2025?
George Clarke – 3/1 Favourite with William Hill
Architect and TV presenter George Clarke has been installed as the bookmakers’ favourite to lift the glitterball trophy. He opened with a solid 24 points in Week 1, showing plenty of potential without hitting top gear yet. Clarke’s easy charm and large social-media following give him a built-in popularity advantage, while partner Alexis Warr brings show-stopping choreography experience from the US. If Clarke can turn those early sixes into sevens and eights quickly, he looks a very strong contender to go all the way.
Lewis Cope – 4/1 with Betfred
Soap star Lewis Cope made one of the most impressive starts to the series, scoring 28 points to sit just behind Karen Carney at the top of the leaderboard. His partnership with Katya Jones, a former Strictly champion known for crafting winning journeys, is another huge tick in his favour.
Cope already looks comfortable in both performance and technique, and if he maintains that consistency, he could shorten further in the market. He’s the “form pick” of the early weeks.
Vicky Pattison – 11/2 with Unibet
Reality TV personality Vicky Pattison began her Strictly journey with 23 points, giving her a platform to build on. While not quite at the top of the leaderboard, her huge fanbase from I’m A Celebrity and other TV projects provides her with a strong public-vote safety net.
Partnered with Kai Widdrington, who has guided celebs deep into the competition before, Pattison has the performance skills and popularity to be a serious threat. If her scores climb into the high 20s soon, she’ll be right in the mix for the glitterball.
Compare all odds on the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winner.
| Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Winner | Best Odds |
|---|---|
| George Clarke | 3/1 |
| Lewis Cope | 4/1 |
| Vicky Pattison | 11/2 |
| Karen Carney | 13/2 |
| Amber Davies | 8/1 |
