With more than halfway through its 2025 run, Strictly Come Dancing is entering its critical phase — and for drag star La Voix, that means trouble. Last night (November 9), La Voix and Harry Aikines‑Aryeetey found themselves in the dreaded bottom two. After an intense dance-off, the judges opted to save La Voix, allowing them to continue in the competition.

The show now boasts just eight remaining celebrity couples. Tension is building — and according to betting-market releases from outlets such as SportsCasting, statistics are hardly in La Voix’s favour. Earlier this week, SportsCasting’s Shane Orton noted that EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal is currently top of the elimination odds, having already featured in three dance-offs — the highest number among the contestants left.

Meanwhile, La Voix (partnered with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec) is listed quite close behind Sopal, with odds of 7/4 to be the next to leave. Shane Orton commented that they are “still walking a fine line after narrowly escaping elimination last weekend.” Sopal, he added, remains a “battler” after surviving a trio of bottom-two appearances.

On the flip side, the title race appears to be tightening at the top. Architect and television presenter George Clarke has consolidated his position as favourite following a strong Viennese Waltz performance with partner Alexis Warr that netted a score of 34. Close on his heels is actor Lewis Cope and professional dancer Katya Jones, who last weekend delivered the first perfect 40 of the season in the Halloween week.

Why La Voix’s position is precarious
Despite demonstrating commitment, La Voix has struggled recently with technical scores. One report notes that after the duo posted just 14 points in a Cha-Cha challenge — the lowest of the series — they were comfortably bottom of the judges’ leaderboard but still survived thanks to the public vote. This suggests that while their fan base is vocal, it may not be large enough to provide a cushion long-term. (Source: The Guardian, live results coverage)

Betting markets reinforce the concern. Data from OddsChecker shows La Voix’s odds of being the next eliminated were 11/4, while their outright win odds were at 125/1 at one point — effectively marking them as an outsider. (Source: OddsChecker) Such figures indicate that bookmakers believe the horizon for La Voix is likely short of the finale.

What this means for the rest of the competition
For the other contestants, the late-stage phase raises the stakes dramatically. Avoiding the dance-off becomes critical: each time a couple enters that jeopardy zone, the risk of elimination — even after the judges’ input — grows. Given that Sopal has already been in the bottom-two three times, and now La Voix has also had a brush with it, the field is narrowing fast.

At the same time, the leaderboard at the top is solidifying. George Clarke, likely benefiting from consistent scoring and favourable public sentiment, looks to be stabilising as a frontrunner. Lewis Cope’s perfect 40 signals a contender surge. Their main challenge will be navigating the dynamic where scores matter less alone than the combined judges’ input and audience votes.

Outlook for La Voix
While the judgement from the floor is becoming clearer — that La Voix must step up technically to survive — the story isn’t purely about dance ability. Personality, audience appeal and narrative arc now play an outsized role. The fact that La Voix was saved once indicates they still have a base of support, but the “fine line” reference from bookmaker commentary underscores that next time may not bring the same grace.

To survive longer, the duo will likely need:

• A standout performance that breaks away from the consistently low scores.

• A meaningful connection with the public vote — the mathematics of this stage suggest viewer backing is now crucial.

• Avoidance of another dance-off — as repeated appearances in that zone tend to erode momentum and amplify elimination risk.

If those three fall by the wayside, the next live show could well mark the end of La Voix’s journey in the competition.