Strictly Come Dancing’s Paul Merson and partner Karen Hauer could be the next couple say bookmakers have priced him to be getting the boot.
Last week, Merson faced Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones in the dance-off and was luckily saved by all four of the judges.
However, just hours before he is meant to take to the dancefloor with Hauer to perform the Quickstep to I Won’t Dance by Fred Astaire, he faces a crushing blow.
The latest odds by betting company Betfred have placed Merson as the favourite to be eliminated in Week Four.
The former midfielder for Arsenal is currently the 8/11 favourite to exit the competition this weekend – but can take solace in the fact he has already been saved from the dance-off once before.
DIY SOS star Nick Knowles follows closely behind with odds of 2/1, and Pete Wicks comes in third with odds of 5/1.
Whilst these three could face a devastating blow to their journey, Chris McCausland is settled right at the top of bookmakers’ list, with odds of 100/1 to win the competition.
However, it seems he’ll have to work a little harder as Tasha Ghouri and Sarah Hadland have also been given the same.
Analysing the latest odds, Betfred’s Kayley Cornelius said: “Paul Merson has been riding a streak of luck since he managed to defy the odds and avoid being the first eliminated from this year’s series.
“However, after barely escaping the dance-off on Sunday night, it appears Paul’s luck may be running out.
“Movie Week showcased the best in this year’s contestants, with over nine celebs scoring 30 or more combined.
“As the competition heats up, it’s clear that Paul is progressing at a much slower pace than his peers and is still lagging behind in skills.
“Week four could very well mark the end of his ballroom journey.”
Discussing how it felt to be saved by the judges, Merson told It Takes Two host Fleur East: “Honestly it is completely out of my hands, completely powerless in that moment in time and I just think I have no problem about it.
“I do sit there and think ‘very good, very good, very good, Toyah is sitting there she is the same as me so I have a chance’ do yo know what I mean!
“That is the way I looked at it, I was sitting at the back after, it was out of Jamie and Toyah – If it was Jamie I would have been out.
“When it was Toyah it was a flip of a coin so I knew I had a chance.”
