The glitterball dimmed for another celebrity on Sunday, November 16, 2025, as Strictly Come Dancing said goodbye to its seventh star of the series. The competition is heating up with the coveted trip to Blackpool Tower just one week away, raising the stakes for every couple.
The Week 8 Leaderboard Breakdown
Unlike previous weeks, the eighth round of competition had no specific theme, allowing the celebrities to perform to a diverse range of music. The judges' scores created a tight leaderboard, with the bottom three couples separated by just two points before the crucial public vote was factored in.
The leaderboard, as determined by the judges, was as follows:
- Amber and Nikita - 38
- Lewis and Katya - 37
- Alex and Johannes - 35
- La Voix and Aljaž - 33
- Karen and Carlos - 31
- George and Alexis - 29
- Vicky and Kai - 27
- Balvinder and Julian - 27
The Dreaded Dance-Off
Once the public vote was combined with the judges' scores, the two celebrities with the lowest overall totals were forced to compete again in the dance-off to save their place in the competition.
For the second consecutive week, the two stars at the very bottom of the initial leaderboard found themselves in this perilous position. Vicky Pattison and her professional partner Kai Widdrington faced Balvinder Sopal and her partner Julian in a final bid for survival.
This marked Balvinder's fourth time in the bottom two, having narrowly escaped elimination on three previous occasions. For the Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, it was her very first encounter with the dreaded dance-off.
The Final Verdict and Emotional Exit
After both couples performed their routines again, the judges delivered their verdict. Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke all unanimously voted to save Balvinder Sopal.
This season, the casting vote rotates among the judges, and for week eight, it was held by Craig Revel Horwood. His vote was not required due to the clear majority, but he confirmed he would have also chosen to save Balvinder.
This decision meant that Vicky Pattison became the seventh celebrity to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
Following the announcement, an emotional Vicky shared her thoughts. "It was so lovely while it lasted and I've had the nicest time," she said. "I knew this week was a difficult one for me and I tried my hardest, as I have every week."
She added, "Listen, I didn't think I'd get past week one. And I'm really honoured to have shared this experience with so many amazing people. Mostly with this fella right here." Paying a heartfelt tribute to her partner, she said, "I don't want to sound too cheesy but you've been the best partner a girl can ask for. I'm so sorry I didn't get you to Blackpool but I feel like I've won just by having you as my partner and I'm so grateful."
