Strictly 2026: Who topped the leaderboard after the first live show?
Strictly Come Dancing is finally getting down to business as this year’s celebrity contestants take to the ballroom for their first live performances.
After the couples were paired up during last weekend’s launch show, the 15 celebrities and their professional partners have spent the past week putting their training to the test.
Now, they will perform for the first time in front of judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke, with their scores giving fans the first glimpse at who could be in contention this series.
This year’s celebrity contestants are set to take to the ballroom for their first live performances.
PA
The opening live show will also see the new Strictly presenting team of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe take charge of the ballroom.
Lacey Turner is currently sitting at the top of the Strictly leaderboard after scoring 27 points for her Cha Cha with Vito Coppola.
Bethany Antonia is just one point behind on 26, while Tabby Stoecker has 22 and Lawrence Robb has 20. At the other end of the leaderboard, Dame Sarah Storey, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Melanie Walters are currently joint lowest on 15 points.
The scores so far are:
- Lacey Turner – 27
- Bethany Antonia – 26
- Tabby Stoecker – 22
- Lawrence Robb – 20
- Cach Mercer – 20
- Will Best – 18
- Chris Appleton – 16
- Dame Sarah Storey – 15
- Shaun Wright-Phillips – 15
- Melanie Walters – 15
Among this year’s cast, EastEnders star Lacey Turner has been tipped as a favourite to win, as has Love Island star Dani Dyer. But they may yet face competition from Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey and actor Bethany Antonia, who is paired with Nancy Xu in the show’s latest all-female partnership.
There will be no elimination this weekend, with the scores from the first show carrying over into the following week. But with the celebrities finally facing the judges, the competition is officially underway.
Stay tuned for the leaderboard to build during the first live show.
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