Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special: Favourite to win after full line-up revealed
There is 'no clear runway favourite' this yearStrictly Come Dancing‘s Christmas special is shaping up to be a cracker, with the full festive line-up finally revealed.
This year’s contestants are Melanie Blatt, Scarlett Moffatt, Nicholas Bailey, Babatunde Aleshe, Brian McFadden and Jodie Ounsley.
Yes, it’s all meant to be glitter-soaked fun – and a handy way for celebs to test the Strictly waters before committing to a full run – but it’s still a competition at heart. And the bookies have wasted no time sizing up the field.
So, which star is tipped to lift the Christmas trophy? Here’s what the odds are saying…
Strictly Christmas Special odds
According to SportCasting, Melanie Blatt and partner Kai Widdrington are favourites to win, with 2/1 odds. This is because, as a SportsCasting spokesperson notes, “she could move during her All Saints days, where choreography was a big part of the group’s performances.”
Scarlett Moffatt, along with partner Vito Coppola, is right behind with 3/1 odds. Her “background in ballroom competitions, something she has previously spoken about, [gives] her an added edge in the betting,” the spokesperson explains.
As for the rest of the lineup, there’s no clear dancing experience, meaning that, while outliers, they aren’t too far behind.
Nicholas Bailey and Luba Mushtuk have odds of 9/2. Babatunde Aleshe and Nancy Xu have odds of 5/1, Brian McFadden and Michelle Tsiakkas have the same odds, while Jodie Ounsley, who is partnered with Neil Jones, has winning odds of 6/1.
While Melanie and Scarlett have a slight advantage, the odds overall suggest that anything could happen, with the spokesperson saying they indicate that “there is no clear runaway favourite this year”.
What about the main show?
After the glitterfest of Blackpool Week, the race for the Strictly crown has taken a sharp turn – and the latest odds reflect a real shake-up.
According to SportsCasting, George Clarke and Alexis Warr are still the duo to beat, holding firm at the top with odds of 10/11. But snapping at their heels are Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, whose electrifying paso doble earned them a huge 39 and sent their odds surging to 7/4.
And in a surprise twist, Lewis Cope and Katya Jones – who actually bagged a perfect 40 – have slipped into third place. Spokesperson Shane Orton has suggested viewers “may be leaning toward a winner without professional dance training,” which could explain the shift.
It’s all still to play for on the ballroom floor…
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