Strictly Come Dancing betting tips: Is the Glitterball Trophy Bobby Brazier's to lose?

Phil Agius Published: 21 Sep 23 08:25

The long summer nights may be a thing of the past and the leaves on the trees are starting to turn brown, but never fear, all is not lost, as Strictly Come Dancing 2023 is about to get underway.

The launch show for the 21st series of the nation’s favourite dancing spectacle has whetted the appetite, with the competition now set to explode into life this weekend.

We have the usual array of celebrities from the worlds of acting, music, sport and reality television taking part, but who will ultimately be holding the famous Glitterball Trophy aloft when all the singing and dancing is said and done?

Phil Agius' Strictly Come Dancing Tips:

Bobby Brazier to win Strictly Come Dancing @ 3/1
Nikita Kanda to win Strictly Come Dancing @ 33/1
Ellie Leach to finish as top female @ 5/1

Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.

Setting the scene…..

Strictly Come Dancing will be embarking on its 21st series in 2023 and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down.

This year's celebrity contestants will all be hoping to follow in the footsteps of 2022 winner Hamza Yassin, as they look to write their names into Strictly folklore.

Before they can start dreaming of victory, however, the celebrities and their dance partners will have to negotiate their way through 13 weeks of competition to decide which of them will be crowned our 2023 champion.

Bobby Brazier to win Strictly Come Dancing @ 3/1

Eastenders actor Bobby Brazier is the youngest celebrity competing on Strictly this year, but he just may be the one to beat at odds of 3/1.

The 20-year-old is the son of the late Big Brother star Jade Goody and television personality Jeff Brazier and although he does not have any previous professional dancing experience, he has said he is "always dancing" at home and at parties.

Brazier may be heading into this as a relative unknown to many, but he could prove to be the breakout star of the series.

Phil Agius' Tip:

Brazier may have far less dancing experience than some of his fellow competitors like Angela Scanlon and Layton Williams, but that may actually work in his favour, with the British public known to side with an underdog.

The actor may just have the right blend of natural talent, youthful exuberance and, perhaps most importantly, a likability factor that can carry him a long way in this competition.

Nikita Kanda to win Strictly Come Dancing @ 33/1

If you are looking for more of an outsider to win Strictly this year then perhaps one person to watch out for is radio presenter Nikita Kanda.

A self-confessed raver more than a dancer, Nikita may not be known to many, but that could work in her favour, with many contestants in the past, including last year's winner Hamza, also falling into that category.

Nikita may also have an ace up her sleeve, as she has been partnered with Strictly favourite Gorka Marquez.

Phil Agius' Tip:

Nikita seems to be overpriced at 33/1 to win Strictly this year and she could be worth taking a chance on despite a lack of dancing experience (she is not the only contestant that falls into that category).

Having a partner like Gorka on her side will certainly improve her chances, especially in the early weeks, while she may also endear herself to the watching public, as she is the BBC Asian Network’s Breakfast Show presenter and is sure to have plenty of personality.

The 28-year-old could well prove to be the celebrity to help Gorka land his first Glitterball success, with the Spanish professional having finished as a runner-up three times before, including with Helen Skelton last year.

Ellie Leach to finish as top female @ 5/1

Nikita could certainly be worth considering as an outsider to win Strictly and the top female category looks set to be competitive, with Angela Scanlon at the head of that market at 11/8.

Scanlon is a popular and likeable television presenter, but her past dance experience - she was once a member of the O’Shea Irish Dance Company - could play against her, with many viewers having already complained that she has an unfair advantage.

That could open the door for someone else to finish as the top female, with Coronation Street actor Ellie Leach perhaps at the top of that list.

Phil Agius' Tip:

Leach is not a complete novice when it comes to dancing herself, as she has experience in tap, ballet and street dancing, but not Ballroom or Latin, which may give her a good blend of dance talent, but not so much that she is considered to have an unfair advantage.

Young actors have done very well on Strictly over recent years, with Rose Ayling-Ellis winning the competition in 2021 and Maisie Smith coming second in 2020.

Ellie could be the latest young actor to enjoy a good run in the competition and she perhaps offers value at 5/1 to finish as the top female.