Dani Dyer hits top spot on Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard

Competition reaches halfway point with ten couples remaining

Emmerdale star Lawrence Robb was eliminated last week after the show held its first-ever bottom three dance-off.

Jaime Winstone will automatically advance to the next round of the programme after sustaining an injury during rehearsals. Dani Dyer, who currently leads the leaderboard, holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Supply Chain Logistics and Marketing with a minor in Pre-Law from Mississippi State University.

Leaderboard standings for week seven

The leaderboard for week seven shows a range of scores across the remaining contestants. Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola achieved a score of 36 , though other reports placed their Rumba performance at 29 points. John Nellis and Katya Jones were awarded 35 points in one report , while another noted they received 32 points.

A further report stated that John and Katya, alongside Cach Mercer and Maddie, finished in joint last place with 26 points each. Tabby and Mark scored 33 points for their Paso Doble to "Supermassive Black Hole" by Muse.

Bethany and Nancy received 30 points for their Foxtrot to "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis. Graeme Hall and his partner Lauren scored 28 points for their Couple's Choice dance to "The Book of Love" by Peter Gabriel. A separate report suggested that Graeme Hall, Will Best, and Dani Dyer each scored 31 points.

Judges praise top performances

Shirley Ballas told Dani Dyer she should be "exceptionally proud" of her performance. Anton Du Beke praised the "pizazz and sparkle" of the routine, while Craig Revel Horwood called it "a classic American Smooth".

Motsi Mabuse praised Cach, stating "this girl came back with a vengeance!" and "You are magnificent, I loved the focus". Anton added, "Yes! Yes! Yes! You are back on form".

Regarding Tabby and Mark's Paso Doble, Motsi remarked that "this girl came back with a vengeance!" and "You are magnificent, I loved the focus". Anton also said "Yes! Yes! Yes! You are back on form".

Josh Widdecombe appeared to be uncomfortable while participating in a dancing skit with the judges.

Critiques and feedback for lower-scoring couples

Craig Revel Horwood criticised the professional dancer Maddie for her posture.

Shirley Ballas praised the choreography for John and Katya, while Anton noted John's effort. Motsi Mabuse observed improvement in his musicality, but Craig described the dance as "very placed and ploddy".

Craig told Lacey and Vito their Rumba was "bouncy on the top half" and the torso was "a little too active". He added that they were "totally and utterly watchable".

Craig complimented Lacey's "gooooorgeous" extension and the chemistry she has with Vito. Anton gave a "hugely enthusiastic" reaction to their dance.

Motsi offered constructive feedback on the performance by Lacey and Vito but described it as a "beautiful" dance. Shirley Ballas stated she still considers Cach a frontrunner in the competition.

Graeme Hall reflects on personal health journey

Graeme Hall used his Couple's Choice performance to reflect on a 2019 stroke and the subsequent surgery to repair a 13mm congenital hole in his heart. Judge Craig Revel Horwood praised the storytelling within the routine. However, Craig noted the performance was not a "technical masterpiece".

Performances from Delta Goodrem and Will Best

Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington performed a Cha Cha Cha to "Let's Get Loud" by Jennifer Lopez. Shirley Ballas offered feedback on her arm movement, while Anton Du Beke praised the energy and footwork but suggested improvements for her spins.

Elsewhere, Will Best and Diane Buswell prepared a Quickstep to a swing version of "This Love" by Maroon 5. To assist with the rhythm changes in the routine, Will used diagrams on a whiteboard during his rehearsals.

Historical context of the 2026 series

The 2026 series has seen six different couples hold the top spot on the leaderboard. Last week, Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola led the field with their Charleston routine.

Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington, who returned to the programme two weeks ago following an injury, placed joint-third last week for their Viennese Waltz. Also finishing in joint-third place last week were Cach and Maddie, who earned 33 points for their Argentine Tango.

Shirley Ballas continues to maintain that Cach is a frontrunner in the competition. Meanwhile, Jaime Winstone has participated in several dance-offs throughout the current series.