Saturday night on Strictly Come Dancing proved to be unforgettable, especially for Vicky Pattison, who topped the leaderboard with a show-stopping performance.
The TV personality and her professional partner Kai Widdrington danced a polished Tango to The Fate of Ophelia by Taylor Swift, leaving the judges awestruck.
Anton Du Beke was practically speechless, declaring, “Your line is the best line I have ever seen, ever! I’m stunned—it was that good!” Even Craig Revel Horwood, known for his sharp critiques, admitted, “Apart from your arm placement, it was perfect.”
Head judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse praised the duo as delivering the “dance of the night” and called their routine “remarkable.”
The Battle on the Ballroom Floor
Week seven saw nine couples competing for a spot in the final.
Lewis Cope and his partner Katya Jones opened the show with a cha-cha-chá to I Like It Like That by Pete Rodrigue.
Despite their previous perfect 40, the couple scored 35 points this week, with Craig giving an 8 and the others awarding 9s.
Karen Carney and Carlos Gu tackled the Charleston to a mashup of Upside Down and Think.
Shirley commended their energy, though she and Craig noted that Karen’s swivel needed refinement, earning them 35 points overall.
Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe performed a Paso Doble to Amparito Roca, leaving Alex visibly emotional, and scoring 30 points.
Meanwhile, singer La Voix and partner Aljaž Škorjanec danced the Foxtrot to Make Your Own Kind of Music.
Judges Shirley and Motsi praised her sunny energy but felt the routine lacked technical precision, resulting in 29 points.
Emotional Highlights and Personal Tributes
Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon brought emotion and color to the floor with their Couple’s Choice dance to Sapphire by Ed Sheeran & Arijit Singh.
Balvinder dedicated the performance to her late mother, moving host Tess Daly to tears.
While Craig suggested the routine could be sharper, Shirley called it Balvinder’s “best performance yet,” and Anton agreed.
The couple ultimately earned 34 points.
George Clarke and Alexis Warr performed a Viennese Waltz to Somebody to Love by Queen, also receiving 34 points.
Amber Davis, nervous about the Salsa, expressed feeling like “a duck” in rehearsals, but the judges awarded her an impressive 38 points, leaving her and her partner ecstatic.
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer closed the show with a Samba to Samba by Gloria Estefan.
Scandal Rocks the Show
Behind the glitz and glamour, Strictly Come Dancing faces another controversy.
A short video reportedly showing a married contestant kissing a professional dancer on set has circulated among staff via WhatsApp.
The clip, allegedly filmed at Elstree Studios, is said to last only seconds but could have major repercussions for the individuals involved and their family-friendly public images.
Insiders told The Sun that the incident has been discussed for years, with many shocked by the apparent deception.
If the video were to go public, it could “destroy the long-standing marriage” of the participant and create a PR crisis for the BBC.
A Show Plagued by Controversy
This is not the first time Strictly has faced criticism.
In recent months, allegations of bullying and abusive behavior by some professional dancers, as well as internal scandals involving drugs and disputes over celebrity behavior, have made headlines.
BBC representatives and Strictly officials have declined to comment, while bosses reportedly continue efforts to maintain the show’s reputation amid the ongoing dramas behind the scenes.
What’s Next
As the competition heats up, viewers will be watching not only the performances but also how the show navigates the growing controversies.
Week seven has shown that Strictly still delivers unforgettable moments on the dance floor, even amid the turbulence off it.