After week 2 of Strictly we have our first eliminations - who was it and who is now the betting favourite?
Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden became the first couple voted off Strictly Come Dancing 2026 after Sunday's Movie Week results show. Lacey Turner is the favourite to win the glitterball, with John Nellis the second favourite and Delta Goodrem the third favourite.
Turner's best price of 7/4 is available with bet365, William Hill and Star Sports. She's been backed overnight from around 5/2 after a solid Movie Week quickstep. Nellis, who topped the Week 1 leaderboard, has drifted out to a best of 6/1. Goodrem still leads the combined judges' table but sits at 15/2.
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Winner Odds
Who is favourite to win Strictly Come Dancing 2026?
| Selection | Best odds | Best at | Worst odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lacey Turner | 7/4 | bet365, William Hill, Star Sports | 6/4 |
| John Nellis | 6/1 | William Hill | 4/1 |
| Delta Goodrem | 15/2 | Betfred | 6/1 |
| Dani Dyer | 8/1 | Betfair Sportsbook, Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Star Sports | 6/1 |
| Cach Mercer | 14/1 | bet365, 10bet | 9/1 |
| Tabby Stoecker | 14/1 | bet365, Betfair Sportsbook, 10bet, Sky Bet, Paddy Power | 12/1 |
| Lawrence Robb | 16/1 | William Hill | 11/1 |
| Will Best | 16/1 | Betfred, Ladbrokes, BoyleSports, Star Sports, Coral | 14/1 |
| Graeme Hall | 25/1 | 10bet | 9/1 |
| Bethany Antonia | 33/1 | Betfred | 25/1 |
| Jaime Winstone | 80/1 | Betfred, Star Sports | 50/1 |
| Dame Sarah Storey | 100/1 | Several | 66/1 |
| Melanie Walters | 150/1 | William Hill | 75/1 |
| Shaun Wright-Phillips | 150/1 | William Hill, Star Sports | 66/1 |
Who Left Strictly 2026: Chris Appleton Eliminated
Appleton and Dowden lost the first dance-off of the series against Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu. Both couples repeated their Movie Week cha-chas. Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all saved Jaime and Carlos. Craig Revel Horwood held the deciding vote that week and said he would have saved them too.
Appleton scored 16 for his Week 1 tango and 17 for his cha-cha to the Baywatch theme. "I already wish I'd done better for her because she deserves to go further in the competition," he said. Dowden replied: "Obviously, I'm heartbroken, it seems to be my luck the last few years." It is her second year running with the first couple out, after partnering Thomas Skinner in 2025.
Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec were bottom of the combined judges' table on 30 but were saved by the public vote.
Strictly Odds Movement After Movie Week
According to Oddschecker's bet history, Turner closed Sunday around 5/2 with most firms and has been cut through 6/4 to a best of 7/4 this morning. Nellis closed around 3/1 to 10/3 and has drifted to 5/1 and 6/1. Dyer has also eased, from around 5/1 out to 7/1 and 8/1. Goodrem is roughly stable at 6/1 to 15/2. Cach Mercer has shortened slightly.
Strictly Leaderboard: Goodrem Tops Combined Scores
Movie Week on Saturday was topped by Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley on 31 for their Godfather waltz. Goodrem and Kai Widdrington scored 30, and Anton told Hall: "I think you could become one of the best ballroom dancers we've ever had on Strictly."
Combined Weeks 1 and 2, Goodrem leads on 59, ahead of Hall and Turner on 55. John Nellis and Katya Jones topped Week 1 on 31 but scored only 23 in Movie Week.
Fourteen couples remain. Week 3 is on Saturday 10 October at 6.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer, with no theme announced.
