The secret rules behind Strictly voting – how to predict winners and losers based on the evidence.

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Trying to guess who will win *Strictly Come Dancing* at the beginning of the season is now a bit of a skill. The latest series is already sparking discussion, especially after the voting rules were changed following last year’s controversy involving Pete Wicks. Many *Strictly* fans were upset, believing he was unfairly avoiding elimination.

This year, the BBC has worked to simplify and clarify how its voting system works, aiming for greater openness.

The show has recently faced some criticism because professional celebrities like Amber Davies and Lewis Cope already had significant dance training before competing.

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Even with everything going on, millions of people still watch the popular Saturday night show. Now, Digital Spy has revealed how you can predict who will win and lose in 2025.

Rule 1: Be an EastEnders star

There’s a running joke about the show *Strictly Come Dancing* – people often suggest it should be called *Strictly Come Walford*! It seems like every season *has* to include a celebrity from *EastEnders*, and surprisingly, many of them end up doing quite well in the competition.

Jill Halfpenny, Kara Tointon, and Rose Ayling-Ellis, all previously known for their roles on *EastEnders*, have each won the *Strictly Come Dancing* Glitterball Trophy.

In recent years, several popular EastEnders actors have come close to winning Strictly Come Dancing. Bobby Brazier was the runner-up in 2023, following Maisie Smith in 2020 and Emma Barton in 2019. Kellie Bright also reached the final in 2015, and other stars like Letitia Dean and Louisa Lytton performed very well on the show.

What makes *EastEnders* so consistently popular with viewers? It likely helps that the show shares a large audience with *Strictly Come Dancing*. Also, the fact that the *EastEnders* set and the *Strictly* practice studio are located right next to each other at BBC Studios probably gives the show an advantage – being able to easily pop over for extra rehearsals could definitely help them stay competitive.

Look, just because someone was on *EastEnders* doesn’t automatically mean they’re going to be a huge success. It’s honestly pretty depressing, but even now, actors from minority backgrounds – especially women – can still face racism and sexism that holds them back, even after being on a show like that.

I was so shocked to see Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal) in the dance-off this year on Strictly! Even though she got a pretty good score – 26 points for her foxtrot – and actually beat Ross King and four other contestants on the leaderboard, she still had to compete to stay in the competition. It just didn’t seem fair!

Okay, so I’ve been seeing a lot of chatter online about Balvinder, and honestly, it’s upsetting. People are saying they think Balvinder didn’t get enough votes because of racism, which is a really awful thought. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened with *EastEnders* either. Remember back in 2016 when Tameka Empson left after losing a dance-off to Laura Whitmore? There was a ton of drama around that too, and it felt pretty unfair. It’s just… frustrating to see this pattern happen again.

Empson was one of three Black contestants who left the show in the first two weeks, when viewers first had the chance to vote him off. There were 15 contestants total at the start.

Rule 2: Be an Influencer / YouTuber

Today’s popular influencers and YouTube stars, similar to the cast of *EastEnders*, have a strong and dedicated fanbase – particularly among young people who are accustomed to online voting and engagement.

The BBC has switched to online voting for this series – using the website or a QR code – and this change has frustrated some older viewers who used to vote by phone.

When it comes to voting, contestants with a lot of young fans have a significant advantage.

Social media personality George Clarke is still considered the frontrunner to win the competition, largely due to his dedicated followers. He began creating content in 2019 and has already earned over 48 million views.

He consistently wins over audiences with his energetic performance style and increasing self-assurance, and he’s also built a large following online.

After three weeks of competing, the social media personality impressed the judges with a dance inspired by K-Pop. Although currently third place, he’s still the frontrunner according to bookmakers, with odds of 11/4 to win the championship.

Rule 3: Going on a journey

Strictly isn’t just about the dancing; it’s about the people too. Viewers enjoy getting to know the celebrities and their partners on a personal level, and seeing what they’re really like behind the scenes.

Honestly, the word “journey” just feels so…forced. It instantly reminds me of those awful *X Factor* auditions where someone would always trot out the “my grandma is sick” story – you knew they weren’t there for artistic fulfillment, just fame and money!

On *Strictly*, a contestant’s ability to connect with the audience is a major factor in how people vote. If a contestant shows genuine emotion, stays humble, and demonstrates growth throughout the show – especially while overcoming challenges – they can build a strong connection with viewers that translates into votes. It’s about taking the audience on a journey and showing improvement without being overly dramatic.

Chris McCausland and Rose Ayling-Ellis are recent examples of contestants who were genuinely themselves and remained humble despite their incredible success on the show. Both were very well-liked by the public.

Rule 4: The ‘novelty act’

Do you remember Ed Balls and Ann Widdecombe from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’? They both surprisingly lasted a long time on the show, even though they weren’t very good dancers!

In Ann’s case, she failed at even being dragged along the floor like a human duster.

Honestly, it didn’t really matter that they weren’t the most talented! They were so endearingly bad that people loved watching them, and that’s what kept them around way longer than anyone expected. It wasn’t about skill, it was just pure entertainment, and the audience ate it up!

Honestly, I love having a wildcard in the competition! They totally shake things up and keep everyone on their toes. Plus, they’re usually hilarious – I always find myself looking forward to seeing what kind of trouble they’ll get into next. They just make the whole show so much more fun!

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. This year, Tom Skinner was the first contestant voted off because viewers didn’t find him likable. His overconfidence and boasting didn’t resonate with the audience, and even his popular dance partner, Amy Dowden, couldn’t prevent his elimination.

Rule 5: The Judge’s votes

The judges’ scores are the best indicator of how a contestant is performing. Receiving consistently high marks from the judges can boost a celebrity’s image and make them more popular with the public.

As a fan, I always feel good knowing the judges have the final say. It’s reassuring because even if the public votes for someone who maybe shouldn’t be in the bottom two, the judges can still do the right thing and eliminate the dancer who isn’t as strong. It’s a nice safety net!

However, the BBC has explained that viewers’ votes take precedence over the judge’s scoring cards.

Okay, so how *Strictly Come Dancing* scoring works is pretty interesting. It’s not just the judges who decide who stays and who goes – the public gets a say too! Even if a couple gets great scores from the judges, they’re not automatically safe. Our votes can *totally* change things each week, and honestly, anyone could end up in the dance-off or be saved by us. And if there’s ever a tie between the judges’ scores, *our* votes are what count the most. Basically, we have the final say!

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2025-10-14 13:21