BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2024: Shayne Ward dealt crushing blow hours before live show

Strictly Come Dancing star Shayne Ward has been dealt a crushing blow just hours before the live show.

The remaining 10 celebrities will take to the dance floor on Saturday and perform an Icon-inspired routine. However, it doesn't look good for Shayne as despite being saved from elimination last week, the bookmakers think his time is up in the competition.

The former soap star and singer has been given odds of 6/4 of being given the boot.

Betway spokesperson Chad Yeomans commented: “Shayne Ward is the 6/4 favourite to be exiting the show this week, but he has company in the danger zone with Sam, JB and Wynne following hot on his dancing heels in the elimination betting.

“Meanwhile, despite finishing joint bottom of the leaderboard last week, Chris McCausland has not put many punters off, and he remains the strong odds-on favourite to win the show!”

Last weekend, Dr Punam Krishnan was eliminated from the competition after landing in the bottom two with the X Factor star. However, the judges unanimously decided to save Shayne.

When speaking to Tess Daly about her time on the show, Punam said: “I am really proud of myself. You know, I’ve taken on something that’s so out of my comfort zone.

“The one thing that I’ve very much learnt is to say yes more and that there is no point in your life when you can stop learning new skills. I’ve learnt more than dancing. I’ve learnt so much from Gorka.

“Everyone’s been so incredible, and it’s just memories that I’ll take home forever, and I am very proud. I’ve made my family very proud, I’m just really grateful.”

"This is just one of those things that I have dreamt about for years and I think to have one of your dreams genuinely come true is just a surreal feeling," she continued.

“Week after week it’s been incredible, I’ve made friends for life and everyone’s just been so kind, so thank you.”

Gorka went on to praise his dance partner, telling Tess: “It's been incredible, it's been a fantastic six weeks. I'm very proud of what she has achieved.

“She's a GP and a mum, she had never danced before and I think she improved week by week.

“I think she is truly what the show is about, someone who doesn't have experience in the performance world came here and learnt to dance. She wanted to do so well and worked so hard.”

Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One.