Dame Sarah Storey Strictly Come Dancing run ended on a unanimous verdict
A tense dance-off against Bethany Antonia forced Craig Revel Horwood and the judging panel to choose between technical precision and musical performance.
British Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey and professional dancer Julian Caillon were eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2026 on Sunday night, October 18. According to reports from Radio Times and The Independent, the pair became the third couple to exit series 24 following the Icons Week results show on BBC One.
Storey and Caillon found themselves in danger after landing at the bottom of the leaderboard on Saturday, October 17. Their Tango to “That Don’t Impress Me Much” by Shania Twain scored 21 points from the judging panel.
How the dance-off played out
In the dance-off, Storey and Caillon faced actress Bethany Antonia and her professional partner Nancy Xu. Antonia and Xu returned to the ballroom floor to reprise their Cha Cha to “Respect” by Aretha Franklin.
When it came to the decision, the panel voted unanimously to save Antonia and Xu. Judges Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse all chose to keep Antonia and Xu in the competition. Du Beke noted that while both couples were evenly matched technically, Antonia and Xu delivered a better performance. Revel Horwood stated that Antonia and Xu’s musicality gave them the edge. Head judge Shirley Ballas confirmed that she agreed and would have voted to save Antonia and Xu as well.
What the couple said
Reflecting on her ballroom experience after the result, Storey praised her professional partner, as reported by Female First.
“I’ve had the most amazing teacher, which has been the biggest blessing. Getting to learn different dances is something I never have done or thought I could do, so I’m really proud to have had a few weeks learning from this incredible chap and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
Caillon had equally high praise for Storey’s dedication throughout their training sessions.
“Committed is the perfect worsd, since I met Sarah, once you get to know her, you really understand why she is the GOAT. She is so hard-working, so dedicated, I’ve never seen such… absolute commitment and hard work to the process. She’s tough on herself because she expects the best …”
On X, viewers expressed sadness over the elimination, praising Storey’s strong work ethic and her partnership with Caillon, according to WalesOnline.
The road so far and what comes next
Strictly Come Dancing series 24 launched on September 19, 2026, with live competitive shows starting on September 26. Storey and Caillon had previously earned 15 points for their Quickstep, 24 points for their Movie Week Charleston, and 20 points for their Paso Doble before entering week 4.
Storey and Caillon follow celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and professional partner Amy Dowden, who were the first couple eliminated from the series in late September.
With Storey’s departure, 12 couples remain in the ballroom. Meanwhile, question marks remain over the cast lineup heading into next week. Singer Delta Goodrem received a bye for Icons Week due to an injury, and it is not yet known whether she will return to perform next week, according to the Alloa Advertiser.
