Strictly Come Dancing eliminated its first celebrity of the 2026 series on Sunday, October 4, as celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and his professional partner Amy Dowden exited the BBC One competition. The pair landed in the bottom two alongside actor Jaime Winstone and her partner Carlos Gu, following a combined tally of judges’ scores from the opening two weeks and the first public vote of the series.
Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden Face Elimination After Movie Week
The elimination results show, broadcast on BBC One, revealed that Appleton and Dowden scored the lowest totals after viewers cast their votes on Saturday, October 3. As Digital Spy reported, there was no public vote during the first live show, leaving the judges’ scores to accumulate across both weeks before combining with the weekend public poll. Appleton and Dowden performed a Cha Cha to “I’ll Be Ready” from Baywatch, while Winstone and Gu danced their Cha Cha to Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman” from Pretty Woman.
Head judge Shirley Ballas, alongside Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke, voted unanimously to save Winstone and Gu. Craig Revel Horwood did not need to cast a deciding vote, though he stated on the show that he would have also saved Winstone. The Independent noted that Sunday night’s episode also featured a Devil Wears Prada routine from the professional dancers and a performance from the cast of Matilda The Musical.
Appleton and Dowden Reflect on Early Exit
Reflecting on his departure, Appleton described his time on the programme as a whirlwind of emotion. “I’m 43 and I got good at doing what I did, which was hair, and to come into something like that, I felt so out of my comfort zone,” he said. He added that the most important takeaway was gaining a lifelong friend in Dowden, praising her heart and passion.
Dowden expressed heartbreak over the early exit, marking the second year she has been paired with the first celebrity eliminated from the competition, following Thomas Skinner in 2025. “Although it was only two weeks, watching Chris grow in confidence – that is what I will take away,” Dowden said.
Remaining Couples Prepare for Saturday Night Show
Appleton brings extensive behind-the-scenes styling experience from the entertainment industry, having worked with high-profile clients including Britney Spears, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Ariana Grande, alongside authoring the memoir Your Roots Don’t Define You. Fourteen couples remain in the competition. Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday, October 10, at 6:15 pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Elimination
Why did Chris Appleton face the dance-off?
Appleton and Amy Dowden landed in the bottom two after the judges’ scores from the first two weeks were combined with the results of the series’ first public vote on Saturday, October 3.
Who saved Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu in the dance-off?
Judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke all voted to save Winstone and Gu after both couples performed their Movie Week Cha Cha routines for a second time.
When does the next episode of Strictly Come Dancing air?
The competition continues on Saturday, October 10, at 6:15 pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, featuring the remaining fourteen couples.