Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips left Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday 25 October, after finishing bottom of the leaderboard with 17 points and losing the dance-off to actor Jaime Winstone. The BBC also announced the show's first-ever triple dance-off, arriving with next weekend's Halloween episode, which will put three couples at risk of elimination in a single night.
According to the Mirror, Wright-Phillips and his professional partner Alexis Warr reprised their jive to Faith by Stevie Wonder featuring Ariana Grande, while Winstone and Carlos Gu performed their foxtrot to Man I Need by Olivia Dean. Judges Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse voted to save Winstone, and head judge Shirley Ballas backed Wright-Phillips, leaving Anton Du Beke with the casting vote. Du Beke chose Winstone, and Wright-Phillills' run ended there.
How the elimination unfolded
Saturday's leaderboard had placed Wright-Phillips and Warr last on 17 points. Winstone and Gu had scored 25 on the live show but still landed in the bottom two once the public vote was combined with the judges' marks, a result that Brit Brief reported left many viewers feeling sympathy for Winstone despite her stronger score.
Wright-Phillips reflected on his exit in warm terms.
“I don't think I can put into words how my time has been, from the pros, judges, staff behind the cameras, everyone who's helped me along the way,” he said.
Elsewhere on the leaderboard, former Love Island contestant Cach Mercer and partner Maddie Ingoldsby scored 24, while Emmerdale's Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystal managed 19.
What the triple dance-off means
Host Emma Willis announced the twist during Sunday's results episode. The three couples with the lowest combined judges' scores and public votes will dance again during the Halloween special on Saturday 31 October, before the judges eliminate one pair outright.
Craig Revel Horwood joked that for the first time in 22 years, he is excited to vote for who he wants to leave rather than who he wants to save. The format reverts to the standard two-couple dance-off for the remainder of the series.
Delta Goodrem returns and Tabby Stoecker tops the table
Australian singer Delta Goodrem returned from a rib injury to score the first 10 of the series, finishing with 34 for her rumba to Celine Dion's It's All Coming Back To Me Now with partner Kai Widdrington.
Winter Olympic champion Tabby Stoecker topped the leaderboard with 37, the highest score of the series so far, earning two 10s for a couple's choice dance to Stupid Song by Olivia Rodrigo with partner Mark Karmalita. The performance was dedicated to her late father, and Ballas praised her as a “beautiful dancer” and called the routine “absolutely exquisite”.
Sunday's results episode also featured Spice Girls star Melanie C joining the professional dancers for a fitness-inspired group dance.
Was the elimination a surprise?
Prediction markets had flagged Wright-Phillips as vulnerable well before the result. Express.co.uk reported that former Strictly professional Ola Jordan had tipped the former Manchester City and England player as the likely next elimination, and the forecast proved accurate. Wales Online noted that fans quickly shared their reactions online once Du Beke delivered the deciding vote.
What happens next on Strictly?
The remaining couples return to the dancefloor at 6.30pm on Saturday 31 October on BBC One for the Halloween special, where the triple dance-off will be used for the first time in the show's history. All episodes of the 2026 series so far are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.