Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood Names Gemma Atkinson As His Pick To Win

And he's backing something of a dark horse this year.
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‘Strictly Come Dancing’ judge Craig Revel Horwood has named his top pick to take home the Glitterball Trophy this year.

After two weeks of performances with their professional partners, celebrity contestants Debbie McGee, Alexandra Burke and Aston Merrygold are all at the top of the leaderboard at present.

However, Craig reckons if we want to know who he thinks will be crowned this year’s champion, we should be looking a little closer to the middle.

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Craig Revel Horwood
Jeff Spicer via Getty Images

Last weekend, former ‘Emmerdale’ star Gemma and her professional partner Aljaž Skorjanec were in eighth place on the overall ‘Strictly’ leaderboard, after bagging a respectable 26 of a possible 40 points for their most recent routine.

On Saturday night (7 September), Gemma and Aljaž will be giving a Disney-inspired performance for Movies Week, dancing the Charleston to ‘The Bare Necessities’ from ‘The Jungle Book’.

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Gemma Atkinson
Matt Crossick - PA Images via Getty Images

Last weekend, the first of this year’s ‘Strictly’ contestants left the competition, with ‘Holby City’ actress Chizzy Akudolu bidding farewell to the show, following a dance-off against comedian Brian Conley.

While Craig opted to save Chizzy, the rest of the panel voted for Brian to stay, including new Head Judge Shirley Ballas, who had the deciding vote.

Chizzy’s reaction to leaving the show was particularly emotional, leaving all of us crying along with her at home, and the following night was similarly tearful as she was interviewed by Zoe Ball on ‘Strictly’ spin-off ‘It Takes Two’.

Don’t miss Movies Week on ‘Strictly’, airing on BBC One on Saturday night.

'Strictly Come Dancing' 2017: Couples Photos
Davood Ghadami and Nadiya Bychkova(01 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Chizzy Akudolu and Pasha Kovalev(02 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Oti Mabuse and Jonnie Peacock(03 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Mollie King and AJ Pritchard(04 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Charlotte Hawkins and Brendan Cole(05 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Aston Merrygold and Janette Manrara(06 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice(07 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Susan Calman and Kevin Clifton(08 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Joe McFadden and Katya Jones(09 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Ruth Langsford and Anton Du Beke(10 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Gemma Atkinson and Aljaž Skorjanec(11 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Alexandra Burke and Gorka Marquez(12 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Brian Conley and Amy Dowden(13 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Simon Rimmer and Karen Clifton(14 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)
Reverend Richard Coles and Dianne Buswell(15 of15)
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(credit:BBC/Ray Burminston)