Social media star John Nellis tops Strictly leaderboard after first live show

Social media star John Nellis has topped the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard on the first live show of the series.

The Northern Irish football content creator and his partner Katya Jones wowed the judges during the first week of the BBC One dance programme with a foxtrot to Alex Warren’s Ordinary.

John Nellis and Katya Jones during a dress rehearsal for the live show (Guy Levy/PA)

PA Media

Du Beke said the routine was “extraordinary” while Revel Horwood said the dance was “classy, elegant and graceful”.

Mabuse said she felt a little emotional watching the performance and that it was “the best dance of the night”.

Ballas echoed those thoughts and praised Nellis for being “elegant” and “sophisticated” in his routine.

Following closely behind was Australian singer Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington who scored 29 points for their Samba to Baiana by Barbatuques.

Du Beke said: “We’ve had a few sambas tonight and that was the best of the night.”

Revel Horwood added: “Wow darling. You are one to watch. End of.”

The live show opened with a dazzling routine by the Strictly professionals to an orchestral version of Joy by Raye.

Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola during Saturday’s live show (Guy Levy/BBC/PA)

PA Media

Presenting trio Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe joined the dance at the end of the routine before introducing the couples to the ballroom floor.

Saturday night marked the first live show for the trio who split presenting responsibilities with Willis and Widdicombe by the judges’ table while Radebe welcomed the dancers on the balcony ahead of the score reveal.

The evening saw EastEnders actress Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola dance a cha cha to How Will I Know by Whitney Houston, scoring 27 points, while actress Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu’s quickstep to Stop This Flame by Celeste scored 26.

Meanwhile, former Love Island winner Dani Dyer-Bowen finally made her Strictly debut with Nikita Kuzmin, after she had to pull out of the show last year because of an injury.

The couple scored 22 points for their samba to Lush Life.

Watching on in the crowd was Dyer-Bowen’s father, Rivals actor Danny Dyer who was on his feet applauding his daughter after their routine.

The episode ended in a three-way tie for last place with a score of 15 points.

Among them was Gavin And Stacey actress Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec who performed a cha cha to Don’t Go Breaking My Heart by Sir Elton John and Kiki Dee.

Dani Dyer & Nikita Kuzmin during the live show (Guy Levy/BBC/PA)

PA Media

They were joined by ex-footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr who performed a cha cha to Lil Boo Thang by Paul Russell along with Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon’s quickstep to C’est Magnifique by Kay Starr.

TV presenter Will Best and Dianne Buswell received 18 points for a samba to Rock DJ by Robbie Williams while skeleton racer Tabby Stoecker and newcomer Mark Karmalita scored 22 for their jive to Katseye’s Animal.

Dog trainer Graeme Hall and partner Lauren Oakley danced the cha cha to Hound Dog (Smokey Joe’s Cafe version) and received 24 points while actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu scored 21 points for their tango to Donna Summer’s I Feel Love.

Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu on Strictly Come Dancing (Guy Levy/BBC/PA)

PA Media

Former Love Island star Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby received 20 points for their quickstep to I Just Might by Bruno Mars while hairstylist Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden’s tango to No Roots by Alice Merton received 16 points.

Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystal’s paso doble to Aperture by Harry Styles scored 20 points.

The first show did not include a public vote or elimination.

Strictly Come Dancing will return on BBC One on Saturday for movie week.