14 December 2023 , 10:14
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Fans of Strictly Come Dancing are convinced they know which couple will win this year's series after spotting a 'running trend' over the past several weeks.
The final of the BBC reality show will take place on Saturday, with Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin and Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell all competing for that coveted Glitterball Trophy. Each couple will perform three dances; one chosen by the judges, one chosen by the pair themselves, and one showdance.
Viewers have now tipped Coronation Street's Ellie Leach to win the show, after noticing that the ITV soap star is the only contestant out of the remaining three to have escaped the Bottom Two. Bad Education actor Layton and his partner Nikita were forced to perform in the dreaded dance-off in Week 10, after scoring a 34 for their American Smooth routine to Björk's It's Oh So Quiet. They were ultimately saved by the judges, who chose to vote Angela Scanlon and her partner, Carlos Gu, off the show instead. Bobby and Dianne have also landed in the Bottom Two twice; once in Blackpool Week and again in the Semi Final.
Ellie and Vito have been tipped to win Strictly 2023 (PA)Savvy fans have noticed this track record, and are now insistent that it foreshadows what's to come for the highly-anticipated finale this weekend.
"I don't think Layton will [win] because that's not how the viewing public works when it comes to Strictly... Ellie is the only one not to be in the bottom 2 so my money would go on her and I actually prefer her and Vito's dances as I believe they are more enjoyable," one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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Another viewer pointed agreed, noting, "The only finalist to never have been in the bottom two is Ellie&Vito so hopefully they win." A third fan posted: "Ellie & Vito are the only couple this year to avoid the dance-off…. this is a running trend, just saying…." If that wasn't enough to suggest Ellie will take home the Glitterball Trophy, the bookies have also predicted she's the most likely to win the competition.
"All the signs are pointing towards a comfortable night for Ellie this weekend... she's headed the betting for some time now, and anything other than a win for the Corrie star would be considered a major upset at this point," Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said. The odds for Ellie Leach are currently 1/10, while it's 8/1 for Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin. Least likely to win, according to the gambling experts, is Bobby Brazier, who is standing at odds of 16/1.
Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin aren't expected to win after landing in the Bottom Two (PA)Speaking on Strictly: It Takes Two on Wednesday, Ellie revealed that she and Vito has selected their American Smooth to Robbie William's 'Ain't That a Kick in the Head' from Week Seven for their couple's choice. "It just felt so beautiful to perform," the 22-year-old told host Janette Manrara. It felt glamorous and grand, and it felt [like] that's what Strictly is all about."