Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby lead Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard

Cach Mercer and partner Maddie Ingoldsby have surged to the top of the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard after a stunning performance during Icons Week ^[1]. The Love Island star and her professional partner earned a total of 34 points — the highest score of the night — for their Foxtrot to Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York, outpacing all other contestants.

Their success comes as a surprise to many, especially given the absence of singer Delta Goodrem, who withdrew from the live show due to a rib injury ^[1]. Goodrem and her partner Kai Widdrington will automatically progress to the next episode if she recovers in time, though the timeline for her return has not been confirmed.

Other standout performances included Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu, who also scored 34 points for their Paso Doble to David Bowie’s Let’s Dance, matching Mercer’s total ^[1]. Lawrence Robb and Jowita Prysztal followed closely with 30 points for their Ricky Martin-inspired Salsa, while Will Best and Dianne Buswell earned 31 points for their Elton John-themed Jive to Crocodile Rock.

The evening’s theme, Icons Week, saw contestants pay tribute to music legends, with routines ranging from Adele’s Hometown Glory to Mariah Carey’s Hero and James Brown medleys ^[1]. The panel of judges — Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke — delivered their critiques before public voting began.

The results show will air on BBC One on Sunday at 7.10pm ^[1]. With Goodrem’s return still uncertain, the leaderboard could shift dramatically in the coming weeks.