Olympic champion Tom Dean has been eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2024, becoming the first celebrity to exit the show. Following a public vote, the gold-medallist swimmer, 24, faced singer and actress Toyah Willcox, 66, in the dance-off. Their performances in sparkly and fringed outfits included Dean’s energetic cha-cha to Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind & Fire and Willcox’s lively jive to Nutbush City Limits by Ike & Tina Turner.
Dean had kicked off the live show with a routine that earned him a score of 20 from the judges, bringing his total to 43 after scoring 23 points the previous week for his tango to Harry Styles’s Golden. Willcox and her professional partner Neil Jones received 18 points for their jive, staying at the bottom of the leaderboard with a total of 30 after scoring 12 points the previous week.
In the dance-off, the judges – Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and head judge Shirley Ballas – opted to save Willcox and Jones, leading to Dean’s exit from the competition. Dean expressed his gratitude for the experience, noting how working with partner Nadiya Bychkova had been incredible. Bychkova praised Dean as not just an Olympic champion but a “true gentleman” who taught her the value of hard work.
The first results show of the series also featured a performance by professional dancers and judges, as well as a rendition by jazz group Ezra Collective. The remaining couples are set to showcase their talents for movie week on Saturday, October 5, with the results show airing the following day. Strictly Come Dancing fans can look forward to more exciting performances as the competition progresses.