Strictly Come Dancing: Chris Ramsey ‘bookmakers’ favourite’ to be eliminated at quarter-final stage

We’re down to the final five in this week’s Strictly Come Dancing quarter-final, as the remaining contestants compete in the annual musical-themed episode.

Famous musicals such as ‘Oliver!’, ‘Hairspray’, and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ are set to feature as part of the dance routines.

Comedian Chris Ramsey is the bookmakers’ favourite not to make the semi-final next week: he’s priced at 11/10 to be eliminated this week, despite hugely impressing with his Pasodoble last time out.

Former footballer Alex Scott is 9/4, Eastenders actress Emma Barton is 4/1, while kids’ TV presenter Karim Zeroual is 8/1.

On the face of it, Zeroual’s price of 8/1 appears value given that he was surprisingly in the bottom two last week.

In that dance-off, he beat Saffron Barker, who the week before beat Michelle Visage, who the week before beat Mike Bushell, who the week before beat Emma Weymouth.

So there is a clear trend in recent weeks: survive the dance-off once, but not twice in a row.

However, Zeroual is different gravy to any of those aforementioned contestants, and as such I’d expect a reactionary surge in votes from the public to save the fleet-footed cheeky chappie.

Even if that proves not to be the case and he finds himself in the bottom two once more, the judges would surely save him given his high talent and performance levels throughout the series.

That is, unless the unthinkable happens and Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher finds himself there, too. He’s a whopping 66/1 to be voted off the show this week, and the heavy odds-on favourite to win the final at 2/5.

The stakes and the competition are certainly high.

Who’ll be the Belle of the ball, and who’ll be asking Craig Revel Horwood, “Please, sir, can I have some more?” Tune in on Saturday night to find out!