It’s now Strictly double the excitement
STRICTLY contestants move up a gear in the competition tonight – and at the double.
The seven couples will perform twice and the leaderboard could be turned on its head with the extra points up for grabs.
They will each perform their own routine before they return to the floor to dance a Paso Doble at the same time in the Pasodoblathon.
Bookmakers have installed former X Factor winner Alexandra Burke, 29, as the 9/4 favourite overtaking Debbie McGee, 59, at 3/1 after she survived the dreaded dance-off last week.
The widow of magician Paul Daniels was plunged into her first winner-saves-all performance during a dramatic climax to the visit to Blackpool, beating paralympian Jonnie Peacock.
A show insider said: “Who can dance the best Paso Doble and give themselves the chance to win extra points? It could improve their chances of getting through to the quarter-finals.”
The betting then has Gemma Atkinson at 7/2, Joe McFadden at 5/1, Davood Ghadami at 13/2, Mollie King at 25/1 and Susan Calman a rank outsider at 50/1.
Susan is also the 4/5 odds-on favourite to be voted off.
Jessica Bridge, of Ladbrokes, said: “The competition’s hotting up and it’s wide open as far as punters are concerned. Alexandra heads into this weekend as the favourite, but if Debbie redeems herself and Gemma tops the leaderboard again, it’s all to play for.”
She added: “Unfortunately for Susan it looks like viewers will have the last laugh this weekend and she’ll be sent home.”
Meanwhile, Debbie has ridiculed rumours of a romance with dance partner Giovanni Pernice, 27. At 30 years her junior, “it’s absolutely great people think he fancies me!
“People see us dancing these sexy routines and assume something must be going on. The truth is we really like each other, but it isn’t a love affair.”