When Jimmy White and Lauren Steadman were eliminated in Week 5 of Strictly Come Dancing 2025 despite scoring 30 points — higher than three other couples — viewers didn’t just gasp. They screamed. The dance-off that night wasn’t about who danced worst. It was about who the public loved least. And that’s where the real drama began.
Week 5’s Unusual Leaderboard: Ties, Tension, and a Twist
The Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Icons-themed episode aired Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the BBC Television Centre in White City, London. The scoreboard looked like a game of musical chairs — except everyone was standing still. Five couples tied on 30 points or higher. The gap between the top and bottom was just five points. That’s tighter than any week in recent memory. Lewis Cope and Katya Jones landed in second place with a polished Foxtrot scoring 9, 9, 8, 8 — 34 points. Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington followed close behind with 33 for their Couple’s Choice routine. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were joint-second with 35 — a score they’d hold onto, eventually climbing to a near-perfect 38 in Week 8. But the shocker? Karen Clifton and Carlos Gu. The usually reliable duo — Clifton a veteran pro, Gu a rising star from Hong Kong — delivered a flat Rumba that earned four 7s: 28 points. The lowest score of the night. No one saw it coming. Not the judges. Not the fans. Not even the producers.Why the Dance-Off Made No Sense — Until It Did
The rules changed this week. Public vote carried more weight. And that’s when the leaderboard turned inside out. Jimmy White, the 32-year-old snooker legend, and Lauren Steadman, the Paralympic medalist, danced an emotional American Smooth to Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’. Judges gave them 7, 8, 7, 8. Solid. Respectable. But not flashy. The public, it turned out, didn’t rally behind them the way they had for others. Meanwhile, Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, with 35 points — the second-highest score — were dragged into the dance-off. Why? Because fans of Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, and George Webley and Alexis Warr (who scored just 25 points) flooded the vote with support. The result? The public’s favorite underdogs survived. The high-scoring couple didn’t. "Well, we were certainly right about the ties creating a shock Dance-Off," GeekSided reported. "As the public vote carried more weight this week, all of the fan favorites at the bottom were able to escape the danger zone, putting some of the couples higher up in danger instead."Who’s Really in Trouble? The Hidden Numbers
The scoring system — 10 points per judge, 40 maximum — hasn’t changed. But the stakes have. Karen Clifton and Carlos Gu weren’t just low-scoring. They were the only couple to get no 8s or higher from any judge. Their Rumba felt mechanical, lacking the soul the Icons theme demanded. Contrast that with Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington, whose Couple’s Choice routine in Week 5 was already being called "one of the most original of the season." By Week 7, they’d top the leaderboard with a tango to Taylor Swift’s "The Fate of Ophelia," nearly earning perfect marks. Even Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, who only scored 6, 8, 7 (21 points) in Week 5, had the crowd on their feet. Their Salsa had rhythm, sass, and a surprise lift that had the judges leaning forward. That’s the power of connection — something Clifton and Gu’s routine lacked.
Behind the Scenes: The Judges, the Venue, and the Timeline
The judging panel — Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke — stayed true to form. Ballas praised the "heart" in White and Steadman’s dance. Horwood, ever the critic, called Clifton and Gu’s Rumba "a missed opportunity." Mabuse noted the "lack of chemistry" — a rare jab at a seasoned pro. Filming continues at the BBC Television Centre, where the show has been based since 2014. The schedule remains unchanged: main shows Saturdays at 7:53 PM GMT, results on Sundays at 7:20 PM GMT. The season, which began September 14, 2025, runs through November 2025.What’s Next? The Road to the Final
By Week 8, Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin had become the favorites, scoring 38 for their Paso Doble to "Dream..." — the highest of the season so far. Lewis Cope and Katya Jones remain strong contenders. But the real story? The fall of the professionals. Karen Clifton has danced on Strictly Come Dancing since 2017. She’s been a finalist. She’s won. But this? A 28-point Rumba? That’s not just a bad night. It’s a wake-up call. Carlos Gu, despite his technical skill, hasn’t yet connected with the audience the way other pros have. The public isn’t just watching for precision. They’re watching for soul.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Jimmy White and Lauren Steadman eliminated despite scoring higher than other couples?
The public vote carried extra weight in Week 5, overriding the judges’ scores. While Jimmy and Lauren had 30 points — higher than three other couples — they didn’t mobilize enough fan votes. Meanwhile, lower-scoring couples with passionate fanbases, like Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, surged ahead in the public tally, forcing higher-ranked couples into the dance-off. It was a rare case of audience power over scoring logic.
How unusual was the 28-point score for Karen Clifton and Carlos Gu?
Extremely. Karen Clifton, a veteran pro with multiple finalist appearances, had never scored below 30 in her previous seasons. A 28-point Rumba — with four 7s and no higher marks — was the lowest score of the week and one of the worst in recent Strictly Come Dancing history. Even seasoned pros rarely dip below 30 unless the routine is deeply flawed or emotionally disconnected.
Did Carlos Gu leave the show after Week 5?
No. Despite the low score, Carlos Gu remained on the show. He and Karen Clifton returned in Week 7, where they dramatically improved with a 35-point score (8, 10, 8, 9) for an unspecified dance. Their performance showed resilience — and suggested the Week 5 result was a misfire, not a decline. No official statements confirmed emotional reactions, but the improvement speaks volumes.
Why did Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin survive despite being in the dance-off?
They had a strong public following, and their Week 5 Cha Cha, while not perfect, was energetic and charismatic. Unlike Jimmy White’s emotional but understated routine, their dance had star power. The public voted to save them, even though they were higher on the leaderboard. This highlights a key trend in Strictly Come Dancing: popularity often trumps scoring — especially when the public feels a connection.
What’s the significance of the BBC Television Centre in this season?
The BBC Television Centre has been the show’s home since 2014, offering the iconic ballroom setting and state-of-the-art lighting that define the series’ visual identity. In 2025, the venue’s acoustics and stage design helped amplify the drama of the Icons theme — from Prince’s "Purple Rain" to Taylor Swift’s ballads. Its continuity signals stability in a season full of surprises.
How did the judging panel react to the Week 5 results?
The judges were visibly stunned. Shirley Ballas called the elimination of Jimmy and Lauren "heartbreaking," while Craig Revel Horwood bluntly said, "You don’t need to be the most popular to survive — you need to be the best." Motsi Mabuse praised the audience’s power but warned it could "dilute the integrity of the competition." Anton Du Beke, ever the diplomat, simply said, "That’s Strictly — never a dull moment."