According to the bookies, Paul is the favourite to be eliminated first this weekend. Bookmakers Ladbrokes have announced that he has odds of 9-4 to go. Montell Douglas, JB Gill, Shayne Ward and Sam Quek are seemingly the safest names in the competition, with £0 being placed on any of them getting eliminated this weekend

As this year’s ballroom contest went live for the first time, an epic show saw JB Gill waltz to the top of the leaderboard, Chris McCausland perform cha cha miracles, Paul Merson tuck into a Vindaloo and Toyah Willcox get thoroughly tangoed.

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 viewers have 'worked out' the likely celebrity who will leave first next week on the BBC series, after the line-up took to the dance floor

And comedian Chris, who is the show's first-ever blind contestant, was a stand-out star of the night as he performed an impressive Cha Cha to The Beatles' classic Twist and Shout with his professional dance partner Dianne Buswell. READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing viewers spot 'controversial' audience member as Zara McDermott returns

Paul Merson made his Strictly Come Dancing debut on Saturday night and will be paid a tidy sum for his part in the show

Strictly Come Dancing fans claimed to have spotted a clue Paul Merson wasn't impressed with his score after seeming annoyed about his dance choice, with the show being called out

The former footballer Paul took to the floor alongside Karen with their American smooth to none other than Vindaloo

Strictly Come Dancing is gearing up to return for the show’s 20th anniversary as the show faces an ongoing scandal regarding the conduct of the BBC show’s professional dancers. The 22nd series arrives as the programme faces scrutiny over the treatment of some of its celebrity participants.