Strictly Come Dancing fans 'know' who'll leave first - and it's 'not Paul Merson'

Viewers think they know which Strictly Come Dancing 2024 contestant will leave first in next week's elimination.

But it won't be Paul Merson, fans have claimed, after them initially fearing he'd been "stitched up" by bosses as "the joke act". Paul was tipped to bow out first with pro dance partner Karen Hauer after it was announced they were dancing an American Smooth to Vindaloo by Fat Les.

Viewers claimed the decision was "sabotage" and would lead to Paul's early exit. But Paul left viewers thrilled in the launch episode on Saturday, as he "wasn't as bad" as some viewers had feared.

He earned praise from the judges and viewers, and now fans are hoping to keep him on the show. The same cannot be said for another contestant, whose routine didn't go as well as some had thought it would.

After getting critique from the judges, host Claudia Winkleman rushed to support Toyah Wilcox who received some of the lowest scores of the night. Toyah performed a Tango to Madonna’s Ray of Light with her pro partner Neil Jones.

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Viewers took to X after their performance and after all the scores were announced with many predicting an early exit for the pair. One fan said: "Neil looking like he could be voted off first again."

Another fan commented: "Toyah will be at risk next week," as a third said: "Think Toyah could go first though." A further comment read: "I remember the tango wasn't into the show until week 5. They are doing it too early I think they are blowing it for dancers who would do better in the long run."

It comes after Paul's song choice was said to have gone down terribly with the ex sportsman last week when it was announced. A source claimed bosses had to "re-record" his reaction due to his dismay.

An onlooker told the Daily Mail: "You can't blame him for thinking he is being set up to be the joke act, but also the connotations of it [the song] are also not exactly positive either. It has been accused of being racist and the song that far-Right football hooligans sing."

Viewers saw Paul looking dejected when his dance was revealed during the launch show. After hanging his mouth open in surprise that he was doing an American Smooth to a terraces favourite, Paul said: "What dance is it again?" His partner Karen then tried to lighten the mood as she joked "It's an American Smooth but it might be bumpier than that."

Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday and Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , and Threads .