Hamza Yassin Drifts as Strictly Punters Plunge on Helen Skelton
Hamza Yassin’s grip on Strictly Come Dancing favoritism is loosening. 3/10 four weeks ago, the Scottish wildlife presenter, known for his work on Countryfile and Animal Park, can now be backed at 8/11. A plunge on Helen Skelton – supported into 6/5 from 4/1 during the past fortnight – is responsible for Yassin’s price slide.
Countryfile presenter Helen Skelton was 9/2 to win Strictly Come Dancing at the outset. She is now into 6/5. ©BBC
Despite five couples remaining, this duo has been backed to the exclusion of all others. Will Mellor, partnered with Nancy Xu, is the current third favorite. 7/4 at the end of September, the Coronation Steet star is now 20/1.
Fleur East – three times in a dance-off but twice the highest-scoring celebrity – has been pushed out to 50/1. Molly Rainford is also friendless in the betting. The youngster can now be backed at odds of 100/1. If the bookmakers are correct, one of these celebrities will depart the show this weekend.
Despite Rainford being twice the price in the outright win market, at 10/11 she is considered only fractionally more likely to depart next and ahead of Fleur East. At 11/10, East is thought to be 47.62 percent likely to depart following her two dances on Sunday.
Changes to Avoid World Cup Clash
In a first for the contest, this week’s Strictly Come Dancing – which is the semi-final show – will be filmed and broadcast on Sunday evening. The change has come around to avoid a clash with England’s World Cup quarter-final showdown with France.
The results show – once again pre-recorded – will air the following evening, Monday, December 12 at 8.15 pm, immediately after EastEnders. Both programs are scheduled to be broadcast on BBC One as normal. They will also be streamed on BBC iPlayer.
Speaking of the schedule changes, the BBC had said: “Strictly Come Dancing will continue to bring glitter, glamour, and glorious dancing to homes across the nation throughout the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”
The changes saw last week’s show – when Kym Marsh became the tenth celebrity to depart from the show after a dance-off with Molly Rainford – broadcast on Friday. After this weekend, Strictly Come Dancing will return to its normal slot. Sunday, December 17th is the date set aside for the grand finale.
Molly Could Set a New Record
Last year the Glitterball Trophy went to Rose Ayling-Ellis. 8/1 at the start of the show, the deaf EastEnders actress became the betting favorite after her week two performance. She never lost the mantle of market leader thereafter. The 27-year-old was 1/8 ahead of the final show.
The form book indicates that Strictly Come Dancing viewers have no age or sex discrimination. During the past decade, six winners have been male, and four have been female. At 55, Bill Bailey became the oldest Strictly winner in 2020.
Unlikely success for 22-year-old Molly Rainford next weekend would make her the youngest-ever Strictly Come Dancing winner. The current record belongs to Louis Smith. The gymnast was 23 when taking the BBC competition in 2012.
