The couple who could be crowned Strictly Come Dancing winners—and they're not the current favourites

The Strictly Come Dancing winners are weeks away from being revealed and yet there could be one couple whose talent sees them snatch the crown from the current favourites.

Long-time fans will already be counting down the days until the highly-anticipated Strictly Come Dancing 2021 final. Now just four couples remain and they each have two chances to impress not only the judges, but the voting public. From the semi-final they will be performing two very different dances and though many people will still miss those who left Strictly Come Dancing, viewers will soon get to see which of the fabulous contestants will become finalists. When it comes to the current odds, there are some definite front-runners, though that doesn’t necessarily count the couple with the lowest predicted chances out for several significant reasons.  

But which couple could go on to beat the odds and be crowned Strictly Come Dancing winners? 

The couple that could be the unexpected Strictly Come Dancing winners of 2021

As fans excitedly look forward to the Strictly Come Dancing winners being crowned in the hit show’s grand final, predictions over just which of the remaining Strictly Come Dancing 2021 couples will lift the glitterball are emerging everywhere. We all have our personal favourites and those who the Strictly 2021 judges think deliver a technical masterclass each week. 

Though with the public vote also influencing proceedings, there can often be huge disparities between the leaderboard and who ends up in the dreaded dance off. This is certainly the case for CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson and his professional partner Nancy Xu. 

The bubbly couple have consistently wowed the judges with both their ballroom and Latin dance performances, but have had to dance again three times now.  In the highly-anticipated quarter final, the couple scored a near-perfect score of 39. 

Though according to the latest odds for the Strictly Come Dancing winners from BetVictor, they are the least likely to lift the trophy. Strictly’s Rhys and Nancy have odds of just 33/1, compared to their fellow contestants. 

As has been the case throughout much of the competition, Rose Ayling-Ellis is currently the odds-on favourite for the win. In recent weeks her dance partner, Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice, broke his silence on romance rumors with Made In Chelsea’s Verity Bowditch, whilst fans can’t help hoping for him and Rose to get together.   

Despite the speculation, however, it certainly hasn’t affected his and Rose’s performances or their current odds of 1/5 that they’ll be the Strictly Come Dancing winners. Following them are AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington on 7/1 and John Whaite and Johannes Radebe with odds of 8/1. 

However, whilst Rhys and Nancy might have the lowest odds, that doesn’t mean that the glitterball is out of reach. Their scores have been consistently high, with last week’s score of 39 for their Argentine Tango matching that of bookmakers’ favourites Rose and Giovanni for their American Smooth. 

Since Week 1 they haven’t got lower than a score of 30 and were the second Strictly 2021 couple to secure a prestigious perfect score of 40, after Rose and Giovanni. Each time Rhys and Nancy have found themselves in the bottom two, they’ve come back fighting and survived another week. 

Their consistency, high energy performances and brilliant scores makes them definite ones to watch as potential Strictly Come Dancing winners. In previous years the Strictly winners have been determined by public vote only, with the judges’ scores given as guidance. 

Whilst Rhys and Nancy might not have secured as much of the public vote as other couples, finding themselves in the dance off multiple times despite high scores, until the grand final, the judges have the final decision on which of the bottom couples will get through.

Fans are usually eager to see the best dancer on the night crowned the winners. So if Rhys and Nancy do make it to the final regardless of another potential dance off appearance and give their best performance yet, they could find themselves celebrating with the glitterball. 

When is the Strictly Come Dancing final and how can you watch it? 

The Strictly Come Dancing final is Saturday, December 18th, just a week before Christmas Day, when the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special 2021 will air. Last year four couples made it to the final, though in previous years there were only three couples and each of them waited together to hear if they had been crowned champions. With four couples now preparing for their semi-final dances and no suggestion that one won’t be going home as usual, it seems that this year will see a return to having a final three. 

Regardless of the number of Strictly 2021 finalists, the couples will all have to perform three dances. Two will be dances they’ve already performed throughout the series, with one chosen by the judges and one by the couple themselves, usually either their highest scoring dance so far or their favourite. 

The third dance will be brand new and is a Showdance, sometimes known as the freestyle. As the name would suggest, there are no rules in place when it comes to the Showdance. Any style, number of lifts and elements from different dances are allowed and in previous years they’ve often been some of the most impressive or memorable performances.

In each Strictly Come Dancing final so far the Showdances have been very distinct, with the couples picking their strengths and adding their own unique flair to the routines. For any viewers left unsure about who to vote for, they often get inspiration from these breath-taking performances. 

Whether or not it will be bookmakers’ favourites Rose and Giovanni who become Strictly Come Dancing winners or if a talented couple like Rhys and Nancy go on to win remains to be seen. 

We can’t wait to see who will make it through to the final in just a few weeks time!