The new series of Strictly Come Dancing is officially underway, with this year’s celebrity contestants taking to the ballroom for the first live show on Saturday night.
While all the famous stars had their routines, it looks like viewers have already chosen their winner for the 2023 season.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, fans shared their predictions on who could lift the coveted glitterball trophy in the final, with many suggesting that Nigel Harman and his partner Katya Jones will be this year’s winners.
© Guy Levy Nigel Harman and Katya Jones wowed the crowd with their epic Paso Doble
One person wrote: “NIGEL & KATYA TAKE THE MIRROR BALL AND RUN #Strictly”, while another added: “OK I already have my @bbcstrictly favourite. Nigel & Katya will win after that Paso Doble!”
A third person commented: “I love Nigel Harman! I think he’ll be my winner this year! #Strictly,” while another agreed, tweeting: “Just waiting to see how Nigel does with the other dances (Samba, Jive etc) but I think that he could be this year’s winner.”
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Strictly Come Dancing: Nigel Harman brings the house down with an epic Paso Doble to close the first live show
Strictly Come Dancing: Nigel Harman brings the house down with an epic Paso Doble to close the first live showUnsurprisingly, viewers had already predicted that Nigel would walk away with the trophy this year given that he and Katya topped the leaderboard at the end of the show, with their epic Paso Doble winning them 32 points. Watch the amazing performance in the video below.
WATCH: Nigel Harman closes the show to top the charts with an Epic Paso Doble
The pair received high praise from the judging panel, with head judge Shirley Ballas praising the actor as “the one to beat”, while Motsi Mabuse said the dance was “absolutely spectacular”.
Meanwhile, Craig Revel Horwood said: “I’m telling you I wouldn’t want to be competing with you around dear. That was the dance of the night!”
Anton Du Beke added: “To go out and do it with that power, that intensity. You stole the night.”
Every previous winner of Strictly Come Dancing
- 2004: Natisha Kaplinsky (partner of Brendan Cole)
- 2004: Jill Halfpenny (partner Darren Bennett)
- 2005: Darren Gough (partner of Lilia Kopylova)
- 2006: Mark Ramprakash (partner of Karen Hardy)
- 2007: Alesha Dixon (partner Matthew Cutler)
- 2008: Tom Chambers (partner of Camilla Dallerup)
- 2009: Chris Hollins (partner of Ola Jordan)
- 2010: Kara Tointon (partner Artem Chigvintsev)
- 2011: Harry Judd (partner of Aliona Vilani)
- 2012: Louis Smith (partner of Flavia Cacace)
- 2013: Abbey Clancy (partner Aljaž Škorjanec)
- 2014: Caroline Flack (partner Pasha Kovalev)
- 2015: Jay McGuiness (partner of Aliona Vilani)
- 2016: Ore Oduba (partner of Joanne Clifton)
- 2017: Joe McFadden (partner of Katya Jones)
- 2018: Stacey Dooley (partner Kevin Clifton)
- 2019: Kelvin Fletcher (partner of Oti Mabuse)
- 2020: Bill Bailey (partner of Oti Mabuse)
- 2021: Rose Ayling-Ellis (partner Giovanni Pernice)
- 2022: Hamza Yassin (partner of Jowita Przystał)
However, it wasn’t just Nigel who impressed the crowd on Saturday night. Angela Rippon wowed the judges and viewers alike with her and Kai Widdrington’s incredible Cha Cha Cha, in which the star extended her leg over her head.
© Guy Levy Fans think Nigel will walk away with the glitter ball trophy this year
While Shirley said the dance was “most spectacular”, Craig hailed the routine as “stunning”.
© Guy LevyAngela Rippon and Kai Widdrington performed an amazing Cha Cha Cha
READ: Strictly look at Angela Rippon’s life away from the cameras: from family to ‘stressful’ divorce
MORE: Strictly’s Zara McDermott and Sam Thompson relationship timeline: split, reunion and more
Fans were equally impressed, with one person writing on X: “The newsreaders always do so well on #Strictly. Did anyone else see Angela Rippon, who is 78, put her leg over her HEAD last night?! Amazing!” while another added: “Angela Rippon has my utmost respect at the age of 78 doing these types of moves is amazing may she be an inspiration to others to make her a lady NOW.”
A third fan said the journalist was “amazing”, adding that she would “go far” in the competition.
© Kieron McCarronFans think Angela will go far in the competition
Other viewers also took to social media to praise the show as a whole, with one person writing: “Best first live show ever? What a show we’ve got – loving it already.”
Another added: “Wow what a first show!!! That was amazing!!!”
For a full rundown of everything that happened during the first week, click here.
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: HIS Education