BBC Strictly Come Dancing star 'to go home' after showing 'confidence struggles'

A Strictly Come Dancing star is facing leaving the competition as her 'confidence struggles' show. It's week seven of the BBC One dance contest which means we are now more than halfway through the 2024 series.

The latest live show on Saturday night (November 2) will see Taylor Swift and Beyonce among the music stars who will be honoured during Strictly's inaugural 'Icons Week'.

The special week, which follows the Halloween special, will see the remaining 10 celebrities and their professional dance partners take to the ballroom floor to perform a routine accompanied by a track from a well-known singer.

READ MORE: Four BBC Strictly Come Dancing stars 'at risk' named amid first Icons Week

Continuing the celebration of music “icons”, the professional dancers will then perform a Beyonce medley with Johannes Radebe channelling the singer’s alter-ego, Sasha Fierce, during Sunday's results show.

Now, body language and behavioural expert Darren Stanton has given his thoughts on the couples who he believes will find themselves in the bottom two this week, as the competition continues to heat up.

And it's Sam Quek and her partner Nikita Kuzmin who have been earmarked as the latest casualties of the Strictly dance floor this weekend, due to a lack of ‘confidence’ from the hockey star, according to a body language expert.

Speaking on behalf of Betfair Slots, Darren said that Sam and Nikita have seen a ‘dip’ as the competition has continued, and have ‘lost a lot of ground’, with their rapport in a ‘bit of short supply’.

He added that Sam’s emotions have sometimes gotten in the way, which could have affected her focus, believing they will be going home during the next results show on Sunday night (November 3).

Darren said: "Nikita and Sam have had this dip in the last couple of weeks, and they’ve lost a lot of ground. Their rapport is in a bit of short supply, which could be the downfall of them soon. They’re not very tactile or close. Sam has sometimes been quite emotional, which could have affected her concentration and belief system.

"People who tend to get really far in these sorts of competitions are very fixated on the end goal and very focused - they don’t let anything get in the way. With Sam and Nikita, she’s struggled with some of the moves and had some errors. If you’ve got things on your mind affecting your focus it has a ripple effect, and I believe she struggles with her confidence, which continues to be an issue. I think these two will be going home this weekend."

Elsewhere, Darren also predicted that former Coronation Street actor Shayne Ward could be joining Sam in the bottom two, as he believes he has ‘reached the pinnacle’ of his ability on the show, and outlines signs Shayne is ‘beginning to struggle’ and is ‘flagging’ in the competition.

He added: "With Shayne, I think he’ll be in trouble again this week. I think he’s reached the pinnacle of his dance abilities. He was saved last week from the bottom two, but I think in terms of the connection with Nancy [Xu], it’s there, but it’s not there as much as it is with some of the stronger couples. Shayne is a potential casualty this week. Shayne is flagging now and beginning to struggle, I think we’ll definitely see him in the bottom two.

"He has a good rapport with Nancy but there isn’t a deep level of reciprocal liking, there’s not much eye contact. We’re not seeing belief from Shayne, such as when he goes up to get his results, sometimes he flashes fear and sadness as he wants to do more, and be better. I think he doesn’t truly believe, he hasn’t got that fire in his belly, or belief system of someone who can go all the way. It has to do with that personal belief system, that is vital."