Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden are the first couple to leave Strictly Come Dancing 2026

Chris Appleton, BBC/Guy Levy

In tonight’s first results show of Strictly Come Dancing 2026, Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden left the competition following a Movie Week dance off against Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu.  

Chris Appleton & Amy Dowden, Jaime Winstone & Carlos Gu, BBC/Guy Levy

This week’s Strictly Come Dancing judges’ scores were added to those from last week’s first live show, when there was no public vote, and were then combined with the results of last night’s public vote to decide the two lowest scoring couples who would face the dance off.   

Both couples performed their routines again. Chris and Amy performed their Cha Cha to I’ll Be Ready from Baywatch, before Jaime and Carlos performed their Cha Cha to Oh, Pretty Woman from Pretty Woman.  

After both couples had danced, the judges delivered their verdicts: 

• Motsi Mabuse chose to save Jaime and Carlos. 
• Head Judge Shirley Ballas chose to save Jaime and Carlos. 
• Anton Du Beke chose to save Jaime and Carlos. 

With three votes in favour of Jaime and Carlos, they won the majority vote meaning that Chris and Amy would be leaving Strictly Come Dancing. 

Craig Revel Horwood – who this week was the judge with the deciding vote – said that he would also have saved Jaime and Carlos, should he have been required to vote. 

Carlos Gu & Jaime Winstone BBC/Guy Levy

There’ll be immediate reaction from the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor in the first episode of Strictly: Lights Up, hosted by Abi Clarke and Tyler West, available on BBC iPlayer from the moment the results show credits roll. Chris and Amy will then join Ellie Taylor on Strictly – It Takes Two on Monday at 6:30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

Emma Willis, Chris Appleton & Amy Dowden, BBC/Guy Levy

Sunday night’s results show also featured a The Devil Wears Prada routine from the Strictly Professionals – featuring Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood – plus a special performance from Matilda The Musical, with the four young performers who play Matilda taking to the stage to sing Quiet alongside composer Tim Minchin.

The Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Celebrities & Professional Dancers :BBC/Guy Levy

The remaining fourteen couples will take to the dancefloor next week, when Strictly Come Dancing returns at 6:15pm on Saturday 10 October. All episodes of the 2026 series so far are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.