Bobby Brazier has been dealt a bitter blow ahead of Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing quarter final as, after bouncing back from his bottom two to get his highest score so far, he is now the big favourite to be eliminated next.
There were audible gasps around the famous Tower Ballroom earlier this month when, after he and pro partner Dianne Buswell opened the Blackpool live show with a jive to Wham's Wake Me Up Before You Go and got plenty of praise from the judges, the well fancied couple fell into the dance-off for the first time. Given that EastEnders star Bobby had been the early favourite to win the new series of Strictly, his place in the competition coming under threat came as a massive shock to bookies and fans alike, with Dianne also looking upset as their fate was revealed.
Bobby and Dianne did escape the Strictly axe, as the judges sent home Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington in a unanimous decision but, having witnessed Bobby having to battle to stay in the race for the Glitterball trophy, he was promptly made the favourite to go in week 10. The odds were than changed again, after it was confirmed that he'd be dancing a Couple's Choice in honour of mum Jade Goody, who died in 2009, following a battle with cervical cancer.
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Emotions ran high in the BC ballroom as Bobby and Dianne performed their routine to This Woman's Work on Saturday, with judges and people watching at home incredibly moved by what they saw, as the couple were rewarded a new personal score of 37 out of 40.
Combined with the public vote, that helped Bobby and Dianne get through to the quarter final, with Strictly host Claudia Winkleman than announcing that they'd be dancing to Dirty Dancing classic (I've Had) The Time of My Life for Musicals Week. However, as loved as that song is, bookies have once again predicted that the writing could be on the wall for Bobby's chance of winning the show.
Ruling him out of victory, BetVictor have made him the 7/4 favourite to go this weekend, ahead of Nigel Harman on 15/8.
