Lancashire's AJ Odudu and John Whaite wow Strictly Come Dancing judges in first week of competition

She topped the leaderboard alongside her partner Kai Widdrington with a score of 34 for her jive to Gold Dust by DJ Fresh.

Judge Motsi Mabuse hailed her routine “the best dance of the evening, without a doubt”.

Fellow judge Anton Du Beke added: “We have just dropped into week nine.”

“There’s not much to say. It was absolutely remarkable. Completely brilliant,” he said.

Chorley's Great British Bake Off star John Whaite came joint second on the leaderboard in the competition’s first all-male pairing alongside professional dancer Johannes Radebe.

Du Beke told them: “Last week you said you wanted to make it about the dancing and let me tell you, you absolutely made it about the dancing because that was a great dance.”

He added: “Just carry on like that please and I will be delighted. Fabulous.”

Shirley Ballas added: “Well, I feel this is a testament to the same-sex couple.

“It was absolutely exquisite.”

Olympic swimming champion Adam Peaty was also given a score of 30 by the judges after performing with Katya Jones.

No celebrities left the show during Saturday’s episode.

Instead, the judges’ scores will be carried over to next week when viewers will have the chance to vote for their favourite of the 15 couples.

Saturday’s programme saw former rugby player Ugo Monye dedicate his performance to his late father.

He told viewers: “My dad passed away a couple of weeks ago of prostate cancer and we had his funeral this morning, and during the funeral they spoke about today being a celebration.

“And that’s exactly how today felt.

“There’s no better way of celebrating than by dancing.”

He is performing with Oti Mabuse, who has won the series for two consecutive years alongside Kelvin Fletcher and Bill Bailey.

Also starring in this year’s competition are comedians Robert Webb and Judi Love, BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker, Dragon’s Den star Sara Davies, CBBC host Rhys Stephenson, actresses Rose Ayling-Ellis, Katie McGlynn and Nina Wadia, actor Greg Wise, McFly singer Tom Fletcher and influencer Tilly Ramsay.

Davies currently sits bottom of the leaderboard with 17.

Saturday’s show took place after reports that three of the professional dancers have not had the coronavirus vaccine.

On Thursday the BBC denied in a statement that dancers or celebrity contestants have threatened to quit the show over the row, or raised concerns with the BBC or the production team.