Strictly 2026: First triple dance-off leads to Halloween exit for fifth couple

Soap actor Lawrence Robb and his professional partner have been eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing after failing to impress during the show’s first triple dance-off.

The Emmerdale star fought for his place, alongside dancer Jowita Przystal, in the debut triple threat competition.

They were pitted against actress Jaime Winstone and partner Carlos Gu, and House Of The Dragon star Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu.

The contestants reprised their Halloween week routines, with Winstone and Gu performing their salsa to Filthy/Gorgeous by the Scissor Sisters.

Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystal bowed out of the competition on Sunday

PA

Antonia and Xu danced their jive to I’m In Love With A Monster by Fifth Harmony, and Robb and Przystal reprised their tango to Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr.

The judges were tasked with voting to eliminate one couple from the competition rather than choosing which couple to save.

Robb and Przystal became the fifth couple to leave the competition after judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood voted to eliminate them.

As they received the majority of votes, Motsi Mabuse did not need to use this week’s casting vote.

However, she said she would also have voted to eliminate them had her vote been needed.

Saturday’s Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard

Week 6: Halloween

* Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola – 36

* John Nellis and Katya Jones – 35

* Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby – 33

* Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington – 33

* Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin - 32

* Will Best and Diane Buswell – 32

* Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu – 30

* Jamie Winstone and Carlos Gu - 27

* Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystal – 26

* Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita – 25

* Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley – 25

Strictly will return to a two-couple dance-off for the rest of the series.

The results show also featured music from Becky Hill and a surprise cameo from actor Sir Ian McKellen, who lent his voice to the professional dancers’ Halloween-themed routine.

The dance, which was recorded earlier this year, was set to Tame Impala’s Dracula.

It showed Alexis Warr and Nikita Kuzmin on a first date, before revealing that Kuzmin was a vampire before the rest of the professionals joined the dance.

Sir Ian could be heard reading an extract from Bram Stoker’s horror novel at the routine’s climax.

The remaining ten couples will return to the dancefloor next week at 6.30pm on BBC One on Saturday November 7.