Strictly's biggest stories, from musicals week to Pete Wicks death threats

The biggest news from on and off the dance floor.

Strictly Come Dancing's stars are heading into musicals week. (BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing's stars are heading into musicals week. (BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing is set to stage another theme episode as the curtain goes up on musicals week, often a high point of the series.

There's plenty to look forward to in Saturday's live show, but will Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec manage to bag another perfect 40 after becoming the first couple to win all the points last weekend?

Shockingly, Pete Wicks has revealed that online trolls have sent him death threats over the fact that he is still in the competition, and although the Towie star has shrugged it off, it's disturbing news for him and dance partner Jowita Przystal.

Elsewhere, some former members of the Strictly family have been in the news this week - Zoe Ball, who has quit her BBC Radio 2 show over ill health, and Oti Mabuse who had defended leaving her daughter to take part in I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!.

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Plus, we take a look at who is likely to be voted off the dance floor this weekend. Here are the biggest stories of the week from Strictly Come Dancing.

🎭 It's curtain up on musicals week

Musicals week offers some of the most iconic moments in any Strictly series as it comes late in the competition, when the couples have really honed their skills.

This weekend, we're looking forward to Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec taking inspiration from SIX, Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola's Wicked routine, and a West Side Story crowdpleaser from Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal.

Read more at Digital Spy: Strictly confirms songs and dances for Musicals week

😮 Pete Wicks gets death threats

Pete Wicks has received death threats from trolls. (BBC screengrab)
Pete Wicks has received death threats from trolls. (BBC screengrab)

Most of us see Strictly as a bit of light entertainment on a Saturday night, but unfortunately, every year there are some who take it all too seriously.

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Speaking on his podcast, Pete Wicks revealed he'd had death threats from viewers angry he was still in the competition over stronger dancers, saying: "Since Strictly, there have been some real crackers. Someone actually wished death upon me on the dance floor the other day."

He shrugged it off in an interview with Lorraine where he said: "It's mad because it's a light entertainment show, but some people take it very, very seriously. But I'm used to it, I've had it for years doing all sorts of different things," but nevertheless the trolling is worrying for Wicks and his partner Jowita Przystal.

Read more at The Independent: Strictly’s Pete Wicks says he’s received death threats for staying in dance competition

💯 Tasha Ghouri is first to a perfect 40

Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec got a perfect 40. (BBC)
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec got a perfect 40. (BBC)

It's been a long time coming, but as expected by pretty much everyone, Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec became the first couple to achieve a perfect score of 40 this series.

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Their perfect routine was an American Smooth to Lewis Capaldi's Someone You Loved, including a series of impressive lifts, and the couple were also second in the Sambathon.

JB Gill and Lauren Oakley were hot on their heels, earning 39 points for their Charleston and were also Sambathon winners.

Read more at Hello!: Strictly Come Dancing: Week 10 leaderboard and results as star gets first perfect score of the series

💔 Zoe Ball quits BBC Radio 2 over ill health

Zoe Ball at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2016 (Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Zoe Ball opened up on a painful health condition. (EMPICS Entertainment)

Former Strictly contestant and ex It Takes Two presenter Zoe Ball had some sad news for fans this week as she revealed the secret health struggle behind her decision to quit her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show.

Ball, who will be replaced by Scott Mills in the new year, posted on Instagram about a painful condition that led to her waking up with headaches - not ideal for the early starts her role demands.

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She shared: "I have TMJ and wake most days with awful headaches from tension & jaw clenching."

Read more at Cover Media: Zoe Ball reveals secret health condition after quitting breakfast radio show

🐛 Oti Mabuse defends leaving daughter to do I'm A Celebrity

Oti Mabuse - I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here 2024. (ITV)
Oti Mabuse is a campmate in I'm a Celebrity. (ITV)

Former Strictly pro Oti Mabuse has followed many an ex-star of the dance floor into the I'm A Celebrity jungle this year, but has had to defend her decision to leave her baby daughter for the Australian-set show.

Mabuse gave birth prematurely a year ago and told The Mirror that her daughter was in safe hands with her husband, Marius Iepure.

She said: "My daughter won’t remember it. It’s just a couple of days. She’s with a lot of family and she’s with my husband who is amazing, and she’s in more than capable hands.

"He knows everything about her. I don’t even have to think about having to trust, or not trust, or worry. I know he’s a capable father and he’s brilliant."

Read more at The Independent: I’m a Celebrity: Ex-Strictly star Oti Mabuse defends leaving baby daughter to do ITV series

❗️ Who's in the dance off danger zone?

Could Pete Wicks be on his way out this weekend? (BBC)
Could Pete Wicks be on his way out this weekend? (BBC)

Sadly for Pete Wicks, it looks like his time on the dance floor could finally be up as he is the bookies' favourite to go home this weekend.

Just behind him is Montell Douglas, but as the stronger dancer many fans feel if it came to a dance off, the judges would have to back the Gladiator and her partner Johannes Radebe.

Meanwhile, Chris McCausland and his partner Dianne Buswell look like a safe bet to make the final as the viewers' favourite this year.

These are the latest elimination odds from Ladbrokes:

  • Pete Wicks - 4/7

  • Montell Douglas - 9/4

  • JB Gill - 4/1

  • Sarah Hadland - 33/1

  • Tasha Ghouri - 33/1

  • Chris McCausland - 50/1