According to the bookies, Paul is the favourite to be eliminated first this weekend. Bookmakers Ladbrokes have announced that he has odds of 9-4 to go. Montell Douglas, JB Gill, Shayne Ward and Sam Quek are seemingly the safest names in the competition, with £0 being placed on any of them getting eliminated this weekend

Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Michelle Tsiakkas shared a glimpse of her rehearsals with celebrity partner Jamie Borthwick ahead of the live show

We’re back for the first live show of Strictly’s 20th-anniversary year. No audience votes tonight but there’s no easing in for the couples who will get their first scores from the judges. We’ll see Paul Merson dance an American smooth to Fat Les’s football hit Vindaloo,

But according to new betting odds from Betfair Bingo, the soap star and 29-year-old Michelle may not be as successful. As per GB News, the site has ranked the popularity of this year’s competing professionals to gauge their appeal with viewers.

JLS member JB Gill has made a confident statement about the so-called Strictly curse as he heads into the ballroom for this year's season of Strictly Come Dancing

Strictly Come Dancing couple reprimanded by concerned BBC ahead of live show - Strictly bosses have shared strict rules with new cast amid ongoing bullying allegations