As the Strictly stars prepare for their performance at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Saturday, it seems there is a Strictly curse the contestants are hoping to avoid.
Unlike the infamous curse which sees couples falling for each other, this new curse involves the leaderboard on the iconic night of the show.
Based on past results, it is unlikely that whoever is top of the leaderboard at Blackpool will go on to lift the glitterball trophy in the show’s final.
In 19 years, only two dancers in the history of Strictly Come Dancing have gone on to win the show after coming out top on the night.
They are Jill Halfpenny in 2004, and Kelvin Fletcher in 2019.
As the competition heats up, bookies William Hill have predicted Layton William’s will secure the first perfect 40 on Saturday night, with Craig Revel Horwood finally getting out his ’10’ paddle.
A spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps said: ‘Despite the excitement surrounding Layton’s potential leaderboard-topping performance, it’s essential to note that only two out of the 19 top scorers in the Blackpool specials have gone on to claim the ultimate victory in the series.
‘Currently positioned as the favourite to dazzle this weekend, the ‘Blackpool Curse’ lingers as an unwanted dance partner for Layton as the business end of the show approaches.
‘Indeed, our outright winner markets seems to reflect that sentiment, with Ellie Leach our 1/4 favourite to win series 21 of the much-loved BBC show and Layton a mere 8/1 to claim the ultimate prize.’
It seems the best place to finish on the Blackpool leaderboard would be third or fourth.
Strictly champions TV presenter Chris Hollins (2009), actress Kara Tointon (2010) and Abbey Clancy (2013) all finished third in the famous ballroom.
Meanwhile The Wanted singer Jay McGuiness, who lifted the trophy in 2015, and Scots actor Joe McFadden, who won two years later, only managed secured fourth place on the night.
Last year’s winner, TV wildlife expert Hamza Yassin, came runner-up to singer Fleur East, further showing that Blackpool isn’t the be all and end all.
Yet there have even been stars who topped the scoreboard and didn’t even make it to the final.
In 2009 Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian got knocked out in the semi-finals, despite coming top in Blackpool, and singer Pixie Lott was eliminated in the quarter finals in 2014 after a successful Blackpool show.
Karim Zeroual and his partner Amy Dowden topped the Blackpool leaderboard in 2019, but lost out in the final to Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse.
Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev and Alexandra Burke and Gorka Marquez were also Blackpool champs, but failed to take home the Glitterball.
