Strictly Come Dancing 2023 Odds: The 15 Couples Analysed

Everybody’s favourite prime-time show is back for its 21st edition, as 15 new couples take to the Strictly dancefloor in a battle for the coveted Glitterball Trophy.

We’ll be bringing you weekly commentary on the show, offering our expert opinion on potential winners and those in danger of elimination.

If you’re looking to place a bet on Strictly Come Dancing 2023, then you’re in the right place. 

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 Odds

Remember that the British public has the most influence over who leaves the show every week.

The two couples with the lowest number of public votes compete in a dance-off, after which the show’s judges have the final say on who leaves. This means the best dancers are never necessarily safe, and the worst dancers are never guaranteed a place in the dance-off – it’s important to remember this before placing any Strictly Come Dancing bet.

Let’s take a look at the 15 celebrity contestants this year, their professional dance partners, and their current odds to win the competition. 

Bobby Brazier & Dianne Buswell: 7/2

Eastenders actor Bobby Brazier and his partner Dianne Buswell are the early favourites for the Strictly crown at 7/2.

20-year-old Brazier has never had any professional dance training but has made no secret of his “love to dance” in the build-up to the show.

This will be Dianne’s seventh appearance on Strictly – her best performance came in 2018 when she was a beaten finalist alongside partner Joe Sugg.  

Angela Scanlon & Carlos Gu: 4/1

At 4/1, television presenter Angela Scanlon is hot on the coattails of Brazier according to the bookie’s odds.

She partners with Carlos Gu, who made an impressive debut appearance on Strictly last year as a runner-up with Molly Rainford.

Scanlon has confessed to some Irish dancing training in the past, but the disciplines of Ballroom and Latin are a million miles away from the “stiff as a board from the waist up” instruction of her training, so it remains to be seen whether this will be a help or a hindrance. 

Layton Williams & Nikita Kuzman: 9/2

Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzman are this year’s all-male duo and are priced at 9/2 to win the trophy.

I’m surprised they’re not higher: Williams trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, played Billy Elliot on the West End at the age of 12, and has also featured in productions of Thriller (as a young Michael Jackson), Rent, and as the title character in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

The judges will be particularly watchful of Williams’ performances with so much dancing experience throughout his career, so bettors can expect some tough scores.

This is Nikita’s third Strictly appearance; his previous best was a week 10 elimination with Tilly Ramsay. I expect this couple to reach the final – they would be my early pick for the trophy. 

Nigel Harman & Katya Jones: 6/1

Nigel Harman is another celebrity with extensive dance training, but again with no experience of Ballroom or Latin techniques.

The Casualty actor has a diploma in musical theatre and experience of performing in West End musicals.

His partner Katya is into her 8th Strictly series and is a former champion, winning the competition in 2017 with Joe McFadden. They can be backed at 6/1 to win the show. 

Eddie Kadi & Karen Hauer: 11/1

Comedian, actor and presenter Eddie Kadi says he’s been infusing his stand-up shows with dance for a number of years but has no professional dance experience.

At 11/1, he probably goes down as the best of the rest, but nobody quite knows until those first salsa steps have been thrown.

His partner Karen Hauer is a Strictly veteran, appearing in her 12th series – she was a runner-up in 2014 and 2020.

Bobby Brazier says Kadi is his most-feared opponent and that his “hips don’t lie”, so this partnership could pose a real threat to the ballroom crown.

Ellie Leach & Vito Coppola: 12/1

Coronation Street’s Ellie Leach is priced at 12/1 to win with her partner Vito Coppola, who’s making his second Strictly appearance – he was a beaten finalist last year with Fleur East.

Leach has said she’s obsessed with the show and was trained in ballet, tap and street dance when she was younger, but that she’s never learned a step of Ballroom or Latin. 

Angela Rippon & Kai Widdrington: 14/1

Despite being the oldest contestant in the field by some way, 78-year-old Angela Rippon is priced at 14/1 to win.

Strictly judges and voters are famously lenient to older celebrities which perhaps explains the favourable pricing – don’t be surprised to see Rippon progress through the first half of the show before being voted off as the quality rises.

In any case, Rippon has spent the majority of her career rubbing shoulders with dancing greats, so will have picked up one or two tips that might give her an edge.

Her partner Kai Widdrington is exceptional – he had to withdraw from the final in his debut season two years ago.

Annabel Croft & Johannes Radebe: 16/1

At 57, former tennis player Annabel Croft is one of the older contestants in this year’s line-up, but she’s been partnered with firecracker Johannes Radebe – undoubtedly one of the best professionals on the show.

Croft had ballet classes at a very early age before tennis took over, and her career as a professional athlete should stand her in good stead.

I’m not so sure – she’s priced at 16/1 to win, but she’d be my tip for a surprise early elimination. 

Zara McDermott & Graziano Di Prima: 16/1

Documentary presenter and TV personality Zara McDermott is priced surprisingly low at 16/1.

She has no previous dance experience which might explain her odds, but I back her to outperform some of those priced higher.

Graziano Di Prima is relatively new to the Strictly cast – this will be his third season, with a previous best of week 11 in last year’s competition. 

Amanda Abbington & Giovanni Pernice: 16/1

Actor Amanda Abbington spent a year at Laine Theatre Arts in her teens but an injury cut short her dance training.

She’s also priced at 16/1 and is partnered alongside 2021 champion Giovani Pernice, who won a memorable series with Rose Ayling-Ellis.

Giovani is another outstanding professional; in his eight previous series on the show, he’s reached the final four times. 

Adam Thomas & Luba Mushtuk: 20/1

Waterloo Road and Coronation Street actor Adam Thomas comes in at 20/1 with no previous dance experience whatsoever.

His wife is a dance teacher, however, which might help him fine tune some technique away from the practice studios.

His partner Luba Mushtuk made two appearances on the show from 2019-20 and rejoins the cast of pros this year.  

Nikita Kanda & Gorka Marquez: 33/1

Radio presenter Nikita Kanda says it is her dream to take part in Strictly, but bet365 don’t expect the dream to last too long with a price of 33/1.

This is in part due to Kanda’s confession of being a “terrible” dancer, but she’s partnered with Gorka Marquez – a runner-up in 2017, 2020 and 2022. 

Les Dennis & Nancy Xu: 50/1

Presenter and actor Les Dennis has a small amount of dance experience, performing tap on stage for Me and My Girl in 1991.

It’s hard to know how much use this will be to Dennis – who will turn 70 during the course of the series – but his time in the West End should prepare him for some of the show’s extravagances.

His partner Nancy Xu has been voted out at the semi-final stage in each of her only performances on the show to date – at 50/1 to win, can she go one more with Les?

Jody Cundy & Jowita Przystal: 50/1

Also at 50/1 is Paralympic cyclist and swimmer Jody Cundy, who had one foot amputated when he was three.

His time as a GB athlete should enable him to keep up with rigorous training sessions, but having admitted that he doesn't know how to dance, it’s hard to imagine him going all the way.

Similarly to JJ Chalmers in 2020, I expect Cundy to be voted out at about the half-way mark. He’s partnered with reigning champion Jowita Przystal who won last year’s show with Hamza Yassin. 

Krishnan Guru-Murthy & Lauren Oakley: 80/1

bet365 has news presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy at 80/1 to win – the longest odds of all the contestants.

I think he’ll be better than those odds suggest, which might be influenced by a debut season for his partner Lauren Oakley.

Guru-Murthy has no previous dance experience but is accepting the Strictly call after a number of years of rejection.

“You only live once and this is going to be amazing fun,” he said, so it sounds like he’ll be throwing himself into the experience – and voters always love to see that.   

Top Male Odds

It probably won’t come as too much of a shock to see that the early favourite to win the whole show, Bobby Brazier, is also the 6/4 frontrunner to be crowned Top Male.

The Eastenders star is pursued in this market by theatre performer Layton Williams (5/2) and former East Ender Nigel Harman (3/1).

Comedian Eddie Kadi is next in the running at 8/1, Adam Thomas follows at 14/1, and then you are venturing into real outsiders territory with Jody Cundy (33/1), Les Dennis (33/1), and Krishnan Guru-Murthy who is a 50/1 long shot.

Top Female Odds

Into the Top Female category, we go with presenter Angela Scanlon leading the way at 11/8.

Former Corrie star Ellie Leach (6/1), ex-tennis pro Annabel Croft (13/2), broadcaster Angela Rippon (6/1), Reality TV guru Zara McDermott (13/2), and actress Amanda Abbington (15/2) are all sandwiched in a clustered chasing pack, with radio presenter Nikita Kanda the rank outsider at 16/1.