If you’ve ever spent a Saturday night yelling “That was at least a 9!” at your TV while the judges flash a collection of stingy 7s, congratulations you’re officially a Strictly Come Dancing fan. And if you’ve ever scribbled your own leaderboard, argued with strangers online about “robbed” finalists, or dramatically declared that the voting system is broken… welcome, this article is for you.
Strictly Come Dancing has been waltzing across our screens since 2004, turning celebrities into ballroom contenders and living rent-free in our group chats. Over two decades, the show has built an entire sub-culture of rankings: winners ranked from worst to best, seasons ranked, dances ranked, even judges’ comments ranked (most savage critique is a blood sport all its own).
Below, we’ll walk through how the rankings actually work, which winners and routines tend to dominate fan lists, where many viewers think the scoring system goes wrong, and why Strictly’s influence goes way beyond a glitterball trophy. And yes, we’ll end with some unapologetically biased personal rankings because what’s Strictly without a bit of good-natured controversy?
Why We’re So Obsessed With Strictly Rankings
Part of the show’s magic is that it gives us numbers to argue about. The judges score out of 40, the leaderboard appears on screen, and Britain (plus plenty of international fans) collectively decides whether justice has been served. These numbers give structure to what is, at heart, a very emotional experience. It’s not just “I liked that waltz” it’s “That waltz was a 35 and the samba was a 29, end of.”
Rankings also help fans make sense of the show’s long history. With 20+ series, dozens of winners, and hundreds of contestants, lists and leaderboards become a way of organizing the chaos. We can debate “most iconic winner,” “most improved contestant,” “most chaotic Halloween Week,” and so on. It’s a fandom built on sequins and spreadsheets.
How Strictly Come Dancing Is Actually Scored
Judges’ scores and weekly leaderboards
Each Saturday, the couples perform, and four judges (currently Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke) each award a score out of 10. Add them up and you get the familiar total out of 40. Those totals are then converted into ranking points: the highest-scoring couple gets the most points, the lowest gets the fewest. If there are, say, six couples left, the top of the leaderboard gets 6 points, the next gets 5, and so on down to 1 point.
This system means that a small gap in raw scores can still translate into a big difference in ranking points. A couple who edges the top spot by a single point still earns the full “top” ranking value, which can be crucial in close weeks.
The public vote and the dance-off drama
Of course, Strictly would not be Strictly without millions of viewers weighing in. After the show, the public votes, and those results are also converted into a points-based ranking. The most-voted couple gets the same number of points as the top of the judges’ leaderboard; the least-voted couple gets 1.
The judges’ ranking points and the public’s ranking points are added together. The two couples with the lowest combined totals fall into the dreaded bottom two and must dance again in the results show. The judges then vote on who to save based on the dance-off performance. If there’s a tie, the head judge has the casting vote. In rare circumstances like injuries preventing a dance-off the rules allow for adjustments, sometimes leading to automatic eliminations or cancelled results shows.
The result is a dance democracy: roughly 50% expert opinion, 50% public feeling, and 100% guaranteed arguments in living rooms and online forums every Sunday.
Winners Ranked: From Underdogs To Legends
Many entertainment sites and fan blogs love ranking Strictly champions from “least memorable” to “all-time great.” While the exact order varies, certain names almost always float toward the top.
Rose Ayling-Ellis, the first deaf contestant to win, is often ranked highly not only for beautiful, technically strong performances but also for how her silent Couples’ Choice routine changed the cultural conversation about accessibility and representation on prime-time TV. Her partnership with Giovanni Pernice sits in that sweet spot where narrative, social impact, and quality of dancing all align.
Jill Halfpenny, one of the early-series champions, is frequently cited in “best ever” debates thanks to her iconic jive a routine that still appears in “top Strictly dances” lists years later. She set a benchmark for technical brilliance at a time when the show was still defining what “great Strictly dancer” even meant.
Jay McGuiness is another fan favorite champion. His cool, understated personality contrasted perfectly with his explosively precise jive with Aliona Vilani, a number that gets replayed on YouTube like it’s a holiday film and fuels an entire sub-genre of “no, really, watch it again” recommendations.
Other winners like Caroline Flack, Ore Oduba, Kelvin Fletcher, and more recent glitterball holders often battle it out in the middle of these lists, while a few early winners sometimes land lower simply because the overall standard of the show has risen dramatically over time.
Fan-Favorite Contestants Who Didn’t Win
No Strictly rankings article would be complete without acknowledging the all-important category of “robbed legends” contestants who never got the glitterball but live on in the fandom’s heart.
Data-driven analyses of average judges’ scores have pointed out that some of the highest-scoring contestants of all time were actually runners-up. Actor Natalie Gumede tops some statistical lists; she reached the final with an outstanding average score but didn’t lift the trophy. Close behind are champions like Alesha Dixon and runners-up like Ricky Whittle and Rachel Stevens, who routinely sit at the top of “best dancers by numbers” charts.
Meanwhile, long-time Strictly bloggers and fans often highlight charismatic figures such as Kara Tointon, Mark Ramprakash, Denise Van Outen, and Kimberley Walsh. The fandom language around them has become almost mythological “Goddess Kara,” “Immortal Alesha,” and so on. These nicknames reflect how fan rankings combine technical appreciation with narrative: emotional journeys, memorable costumes, and “that one dance you just never forget.”
The Most Iconic Dances Of All Time
When fans rank Strictly moments, whole storylines compress into single routines. A few dances are practically mandatory on any “best of Strictly” list:
- Jay & Aliona’s jive – Frequently cited as the gold standard: sharp, musical, and endlessly rewatchable.
- Danny Mac & Oti Mabuse’s samba – Spectacularly difficult choreography performed at a level most pros would be proud of.
- Caroline Flack & Pasha Kovalev’s Argentine tango – A masterclass in intensity and storytelling.
- Rose Ayling-Ellis & Giovanni’s silent Couples’ Choice – The moment Strictly became an accessibility milestone as well as a dance show.
Depending on your personal taste, you might add Halloween spectaculars, Blackpool showstoppers, or the wonderfully chaotic novelty numbers (looking at you, contestants dressed as inanimate objects). Rankings often mix technical value with emotional impact: sometimes an imperfect but heartfelt foxtrot resonates more than a flawless but cold paso doble.
Is Strictly’s Voting System Fair?
Here’s where the opinions really start flying. The combination of judges’ ranking points and public ranking points is designed to give equal weight to expertise and popularity. Mathematicians have even used Strictly as a case study in how ranking systems work, pointing out that the conversion of scores and votes into points can produce surprising results.
Critics argue that the system can punish consistency; a couple hovering in the middle of both the judges’ leaderboard and the public vote can slip into the bottom two if a “journey” contestant spikes in public support or a technically brilliant pair dominates the judges’ scores. Others worry about “vote splitting,” where multiple strong couples divide the public’s support while a polarizing contestant with a devoted base coasts through.
On the flip side, many fans love that the public has real power. Surprise dance-offs generate drama, social media debates, and the occasional rallying cry to “vote like never before.” Without the possibility of shock exits, Strictly would lose some of its emotional stakes. There’d be fewer nights where you swear you’re never watching again… and then tune in the very next week, obviously.
What Strictly Rankings Miss: Representation And Cultural Impact
Rankings and scores capture only part of what Strictly has meant culturally. The show has played a major role in boosting interest in ballroom and Latin dance, inspiring countless people to sign up for classes, try a cha-cha at weddings, or finally figure out what a fleckerl is.
Academics and media commentators have also examined the show’s role in representing gender, sexuality, disability, and age on mainstream television. Over the years, Strictly has featured older contestants, same-sex partnerships, and disabled celebrities whose participation challenged stereotypes about who “belongs” on a dance floor. Those contributions don’t show up neatly in a leaderboard, but they reshape public attitudes in powerful ways.
Internationally, the Strictly format sold as Dancing with the Stars in many territories has spread to dozens of countries. The British original remains uniquely beloved, though; its mix of ballroom tradition, self-aware camp, and genuine emotion hasn’t quite been replicated anywhere else. Whether you treat it like a comforting ritual or a serious sport with sequins, Strictly has become a kind of shared cultural language.
My Lighthearted Strictly Power Rankings (Subjective And Proud)
Now for the fun bit: a tongue-in-cheek, totally debatable power ranking that blends technique, narrative, and sheer vibes. Your list is probably different, and that’s the joy of it.
- Rose Ayling-Ellis – For elevating Strictly beyond entertainment into a moment of genuine social impact while still delivering stunning routines.
- Jill Halfpenny – The early-series trailblazer whose jive still haunts modern contestants: “Is this Jill-level yet?” is basically its own scoring category.
- Jay McGuiness – The king of “quietly brilliant,” proving you don’t need over-the-top showmanship when you can dance like that.
- Kara Tointon – The perfect mix of grace, chemistry, and emotional storytelling, the template for the classic Strictly love-story arc.
- Mark Ramprakash – Proof that a cricketer can become a Latin legend, plus one of the most rewatched paso dobles in the show’s history.
Ask a different fan and they might swap in Alesha, Ashley Roberts, Kelvin, or any number of more recent stars. That’s the point: Strictly rankings are less about settling a debate and more about keeping the conversation going until the next series launches.
Watching Strictly Through A Rankings-Obsessed Lens: Real-World Experiences
If you’ve never watched Strictly with a personal scoreboard and a group chat buzzing in the background, you’re missing half the fun. Here’s what it’s like to experience the show in full rankings-mode and a few tips if you want to join the glitter-covered chaos.
You Become Your Own Fifth Judge
Very quickly, you stop passively watching and start actively judging. A heel lead that doesn’t quite land, a slightly messy lift, a missed hand connection you catch them all like you’ve secretly been trained by the ballroom federation. You’ll find yourself saying things like, “The frame collapsed in the middle section, Craig is going to hate that,” as if Craig can hear you through the TV.
Creating your own scorecard turns the show into an interactive game. Before the judges reveal their paddles, you jot down your numbers. Over time, you notice patterns. Maybe you consistently score one judge higher because you favor performance over technique. Maybe you’re tougher than the actual panel. Either way, comparing your leaderboard to the official one makes every result more exciting.
Group Chats Turn Into Mini Press Rooms
On Strictly nights, group chats and online forums light up like the ballroom floor. There are live reactions (“HOW WAS THAT A 7??”), hot takes (“that paso theme did not work”), and ongoing polls about who should win, who improved the most, and who’s in trouble next week.
One of the best parts of fan culture is that everyone has a slightly different ranking lens. Some people care only about technical quality. Others are loyal to certain pros, backing them regardless of the celebrity partner. Some viewers adore comedy contestants and rank them higher just for making them laugh. When you see everyone’s lists side by side, you realize how many different versions of the same show are being watched at once.
Live Tours And Rewatching Change Your Rankings
Attend a Strictly live tour or rewatch old series and your opinion on certain contestants can shift dramatically. A dance that felt “fine” on TV can be jaw-dropping in person, especially when you see the stamina and precision up close. Likewise, revisiting an old season often makes you more forgiving: you notice how far the contestants traveled in just a few weeks, or how limited the choreography expectations used to be compared to today.
This long-view perspective is why some fans end up ranking older winners higher than you’d expect from looking at scores alone. Context matters. Dancing that felt revolutionary in 2004 isn’t the same as dancing in 2025, and rankings that account for that context tend to be more generous and more interesting.
How To Enjoy Rankings Without Ruining The Fun
There is a tiny danger in taking rankings too seriously: if every week becomes a referendum on fairness, you can lose sight of the joy. A practical approach is to treat your rankings like a game, not a legal judgment. It’s okay if the public sends home someone you love; you still got those routines, and you can rewatch them whenever you want.
Try making multiple leaderboards: one for pure dancing, one for “made me smile the most,” and one for “most improved.” Suddenly, more contestants feel like winners. And remember, the show’s official rankings are only one version of the story. The dances that live on in fan memory rarely match the exact order of the scores on the night.
Ultimately, watching Strictly through a rankings-obsessed lens can deepen your appreciation for the show as long as you leave space for surprise, emotion, and the occasional “I know the technique wasn’t perfect, but that made my week.” That balance between numbers and feelings is exactly what keeps Strictly coming back year after year.
Conclusion: More Than Just A Glitterball
Strictly Come Dancing rankings and opinions are part sport, part storytelling, and part communal therapy. They help us track who’s thriving, who’s improving, who’s “overmarked,” and who’s being criminally underrated. But beyond the lists and leaderboards, Strictly has changed how people see ballroom dance, who they imagine on the dance floor, and what Saturday night TV can be.
So go ahead: debate the best winner, argue about that controversial elimination, and rearrange your personal top 10 every series. Just remember that behind every rank and score is something harder to quantify the feeling of watching two people nail a routine they never thought they could dance, and the shared joy of yelling “TEN!” at the screen with everyone else.
