The love affair between now Love Island spin off show host Toni Laites and Strictly contestant Cach Mercer is over but their careers has sky rocketed since the £50K win of series 12 in the summer of 2025.
I was rooting for them both. Their romance ended in March 2026 after 7 months but that hasn’t stopped the popular pair going on to bigger and better things.
As a big fan of the BBC’s number one TV show Strictly Cone Dancing I was interested to see how the new presenters Emma Willis, Josh Widdecombe and pro dancer Johannes Radabe would handle taking the reins of the iconic show from long standing presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
For me the show format or the presenters don’t matter that much, I watch for the dancing and the judges critique and scoring, the fillers, the VT’s, the terrible comedy don’t really influence whether I watch or not although the gaffs and the nerves in the first three shows have been pretty noticeable even Cach Mercer announcing on social media he and partner Maddie Ingoldsby were through last week before the results show aired. Opps.
I always pick a winner before the series starts and this year it was John and Katya, I am a little bit biased as I think Katya is the best pro dancer and choreographer on the show. However after his Irish jig couples choice from movie Titanic week 3 performance and last night’s appearance, performing a Paso Double opening the show as icon John Bob Jovi I am not so sure of my choice.
Icons week, week four was the best show so far. The new presenters seem to have weathered the press storm and settled into their roles, the strained chemistry at the beginning and mistakes have diminished so as the judges talk about watching some couples nervously anticipating mistakes, we the audience are too able to watch the show and enjoy glitch free.
For me one couple stood out head and shoulders above the rest. Cach Mercer and World champion new comer to the strictly ballroom Maddie Ingoldsby Foxtrotted to That’s Life with Cach flawlessly taking on the persona of Icon Frank Sinatra.
Considering he had never heard of Sinatra before the assignment and was caught mispronouncing his name live on air, his performance was out of this world and under marked at 34. The last number I watched on Strictly that gave me the same feels was Lewis Cope and Katya Jones Halloween number that scored a perfect 40.
Interestingly Lewis Cope was back visiting his friend and co star cast member Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb partnered professional dancer Jowita Przystał. The visit sparked a new found verve and passion for dancing in Lawrence as he took on a salsa as Latin sensation Ricky Martin dressed head to foot in the brightest fluorescent green.
And what a number, he was catapulted from an invisible contestant as the chef in Ratatouille movie week to everyone including judge Anton Du Beke anticipating what was coming next from Lawrence and his daredevil partner Jovita. I don’t count this talented teacher and choreographer out, she’s already scooped the glitter ball once with unlikely partner wildlife presenter Hamsa Yassim.
The one thing I did want to mention as a massive fan of cast members Dad Ray Winstone who was in the audience looking extremely dapper in pinstripes, pale blue shirt, pocket handkerchief and signature specs. I noticed the camera pan to him over a dozen times, including a comedy skit with presenters Willis and Widdecombe making a joke of him calling Daughter Jamie’s partner Carlo in last weeks film of the super famous Dad’s good wishes for Jamie.
It did turn into the Ray Winstone show a little bit, seated next to Dani Dyer’s famous Dad outspoken Danny Dyer.
It will be interesting to see if Ray is back next week as the excessive attention on him lifted Jamie and Carlos from the dance off to top of the leader board. The judges raved about the Paso Double performed to David Bowles Let’s Dance, the penultimate performance of the night. It was great billing and an amazing score for a number I didn’t really rate but with Hollywood royalty there to improve BBC ratings and give the some extra celebrity status and clout he may have just become the ultimate influencer.