As the Strictly stars prepare for their performance at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Saturday, it seems there is a Strictly curse that the contestants are hoping to avoid.
Unlike the infamous curse that sees couples fall for each other, this new curse involves the rankings on the show’s iconic night.
Based on past results, whoever tops the Blackpool leaderboard is unlikely to lift the glitterball trophy in the show’s final.
In 19 years, only two dancers in the history of Strictly Come Dancing have won the show after coming out on top.
They are Jill Halfpenny in 2004, and Kelvin Fletcher in 2019.
The Strictly Curse: As Blackpool draws closer, there’s another curse the contestants are keen to avoid (photo Layton Williams and Nikita Kumzin)
Unfortunate: unlike the infamous Strictly curse that sees couples fall for each other or break each other’s hearts, this new curse affects the rankings on the show’s iconic night (photo Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola)
As the competition heats up, bookmakers William Hill predict Layton William’s will secure its first perfect 40 on Saturday evening, with Craig Revel Horwood finally bringing out his ’10’ paddle.
A spokesman for William Hill, Lee Phelps said: ‘Despite the excitement surrounding Layton’s potential achievement on the rankings, it is vital to note that only two of the 19 top scorers in the Blackpool specials have achieved ultimate victory in the series.
‘Currently positioned as the favorite 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 winners markets appear to reflect that sentiment, with Ellie Leach our 1/4 favorite to win series 21 of the much-loved BBC show and Layton just 8/1 to claim the ultimate prize.’
It seems the best place to finish in the Blackpool standings would be third or fourth.
Strictly champions TV presenter Chris Hollins (2009), actress Kara Tointon (2010) and Abbey Clancy (2013) all finished in third place in the famous ballroom.
Meanwhile, The Wanted singer Jay McGuiness, who lifted the trophy in 2015, and Scottish actor Joe McFadden, who won two years later, only managed fourth place that night.
Last year’s winner, TV wildlife expert Hamza Yassin, came second behind singer Fleur East, further showing that Blackpool is not alone.
40: As the competition heats up, bookmakers William Hill have predicted that Layton William’s will secure its first perfect 40 on Saturday night, with Craig Revel Horwood finally bringing out his ’10’ paddle, but will he be cursed?
History: In 19 years, only two dancers in Strictly’s history have won the show after coming out on top, Kelvin Fletcher and Jill Halfpenny
Throwback: Actress Jill Halfpenny won the show in 2004 with partner Darren Bennett
Pulp Fiction: In 2015, The Wanted singer Jay McGuiness only managed to reach fourth place
Bad luck: And being at the top of Blackpool’s leaderboard doesn’t even mean your place is safe in the final, as Pixie Lott found out in 2014
Cursed: In 2009, Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian was knocked out in the semi-finals despite topping Blackpool (pictured with her partner Brian Fortuna
Yet there have even been stars who topped the leaderboard and didn’t even make it to the final.
In 2009, Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian was knocked out in the semi-finals despite coming top in Blackpool, and singer Pixie Lott were knocked out in the quarter-finals in 2014 after a successful showing in Blackpool.
Karim Zeroual and his partner Amy Dowden topped the Blackpool leaderboard in 2019, but lost to Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse in the final.
Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev and Alexandra Burke and Gorka Marquez were also Blackpool champions but failed to take home the Glitterball.