Strictly Odds: Early Betting Favourites as Strictly Come Dancing Returns
Craig Jones 
The latest series of Strictly Come Dancing returns this Saturday with fans eagerly awaiting which pair will light up the dance floor first.
With the launch night approaching, early talk has already started around who might take home the Glitterball Trophy this season. The line up mixes familiar faces with newcomers, and punters are sizing up their favourites based on dance ability and of course fan support, which can count for a lot.
As the show kicks off, Strictly Odds are now live, offering early insight for those who back their pick before the dance-offs begin. Of course, here at Free Bets we'll be with you every step of the way to guide you through the betting markets.
Strictly Odds: Latest Betting Market
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the betting markets, Strictly Odds for the overall winner have already been released by UK betting sites ahead of the live shows.
Lewis Cope heads the betting at 11/4 with a few brands, including Parimatch. New customers who use the Parimatch sign up offer can claim £30 in free bets when placing a £10 qualifying bet.
There are also bets available on who will be eliminated first, which tends to draw high interest during the opening week as fans look for those who are struggling.
Strictly Come Dancing Odds have historically favoured celebrities with strong public profiles or previous performance experience. This also leans into the Strictly betting tips that often suggest looking beyond just judges’ scores, fan voting tends to play a big role, especially early on when momentum hasn’t yet built by the lesser known, but potentially better dancers.
Betting Favourites for Strictly Come Dancing
Ahead of Saturday's first look, here's a quick overview of those currently leading the Strictly odds list.
If you're wanting an expert opinion on these, and more, then our James Jordan Week 1 Strictly preview will guide you through his thoughts, a man that has been there and done it all before!
Lewis Cope
At the front of the latest Strictly Come Dancing odds, Lewis Cope is best known for playing Nicky Miligan on Emmerdale, where he became a familiar face to soap fans. He also has stage experience, having starred in Billy Elliot: The Musical.
That mix of acting and performance skills could give him an edge on the Strictly floor. With natural rhythm, strong stage presence, and a loyal TV following, Lewis already looks like one of the contestants to watch closely in the opening weeks.
Dani Dyer
Dani Dyer shot to fame by winning Love Island in 2018, and has since remained in the public eye through TV appearances and presenting work. Her bubbly personality and huge fan base could prove a big advantage when public votes start to matter.
While she’ll need to pick up the technical side of ballroom and Latin quickly, she’s shown plenty of determination in past projects. If she brings that same energy into training, Dani could pair entertainment value with steady improvement, the kind of journey Strictly audiences love to follow.
Ellie Goldstein
Ellie Goldstein is a trailblazing model, recognised worldwide after starring in a Gucci campaign and later becoming the first model with Down syndrome to feature on the cover of British Vogue. She has also moved into acting with roles such as Malory Towers.
Confidence and charisma are two qualities that have defined her career so far, and they’re likely to shine through on the Strictly stage. With her inspirational story, natural presence, and growing popularity, Ellie enters the competition with momentum and plenty of public support already behind her.
How to Watch Strictly Come Dancing?
You can catch Strictly Come Dancing live on BBC One every Saturday evening this season, beginning with the launch show.
This weekend's launch show will begin at the earlier than usual time of 6:40pm. If you miss it live, episodes are available on BBC iPlayer soon after broadcast, allowing you to stream on demand.
The results shows typically follows a day later on the Sunday evening. The spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two is also available on weekday nights, again with live streaming options via iPlayer.
Finally, for all the latest betting promotions, sports news and Strictly Come Dancing updates, be sure to stick with Freebets!
