Blackpool, known as the most dazzling night of Strictly Come Dancing, has a secret curse that seems to haunt the celebrity contestants. Only two dancers who have topped the leaderboard at Blackpool have gone on to win the Glitterball trophy in the show's 19-year history. This weekend, stage star Layton Williams is expected to shine on the Blackpool stage, but history warns that the coveted victory is not guaranteed.
A Historical Twist: The Curse of Blackpool
Out of the 19 top scorers in the Blackpool specials, only Jill Halfpenny in 2004 and Kelvin Fletcher in 2019 have managed to claim the ultimate victory in the series. Despite Layton's potential performance on top of the leaderboard, the 'Blackpool Curse' remains a formidable dance partner as the show approaches its climax. Bookies currently position Ellie Leach as the favorite to win the series, with Layton at 8/1 to claim the top prize.
The Best Place to Finish: Third or Fourth
History shows that the best place to finish in Blackpool is third or fourth. Previous Strictly champions such as Chris Collins, Kara Tointon, and Abbey Clancy have all secured third place at the seaside resort. Jay McGuiness and Joe McFadden, who won the show in subsequent years, only managed fourth place in Blackpool. Last year's winner, Hamza Yassin, was runner-up in Blackpool before being voted the series winner.
Top Slot at Blackpool Doesn't Guarantee Success
Even taking the top slot at Blackpool doesn't guarantee a place in the final, let alone a win. Past leaderboard toppers like Ali Bastian and Pixie Lott didn't make it to the final stages of the competition. Others, like Susanna Reid and Georgia May Foote, finished as runners-up. Karim Zeroual and his partner Amy Dowden topped the Blackpool leaderboard in their year but lost out in the final to Kelvin Fletcher. Ashley Roberts and Alexandra Burke were also Blackpool champs but failed to win the Glitterball.
Who Will Leave This Week?
Bookies are tipping Angela Rippon or ex-tennis player Annabel Croft to leave the show this week. Angela, 79, has impressed judges with her agility, but viewers weren't happy with her dance-off victory last week. Annabel, 57, delivered an emotional tribute dance to her late husband, but fears have arisen that she may lose out if it comes down to a dance-off between her and Angela. The drama continues as Strictly Come Dancing heads towards its climax.
