Chris Appleton Eliminated First from 'Strictly Come Dancing'

Chris Appleton, a close friend of Kim Kardashian, has become the first contestant eliminated from the current season of "Strictly Come Dancing." Appleton, a 43-year-old Hollywood hairdresser, was eliminated Sunday night after facing actress Jaime Winstone in the dance-off.

Appleton and his professional partner, Amy Dowden, received the fewest public votes and had to perform a cha-cha. The judging panel unanimously voted to save Winstone and her partner Carlos Gu, sending Appleton home. Judge Craig Revel-Horwood stated that while he would have also saved Winstone, Appleton's performance was "a little bit disconnected" with "awkward moments."

In contrast to Appleton's elimination, Kardashian was the third contestant eliminated from the US version of the show, "Dancing With The Stars," in 2008. Appleton's performance to "I'll Be Ready" from "Baywatch" earned him 17 points from the judges, only one more point than he received in the first live show the previous week.

Appleton had expressed nerves about competing, stating, "I'm having a blast, I am really struggling with my nerves, I'm not going to lie... But I am finding a new part of myself and dancing, I'm just having so much fun."

For professional dancer Amy Dowden, Appleton's elimination marks another disappointment in a series of challenges. Dowden, 36, has faced significant health issues in recent years. In 2023, she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32 and had to step back from the show for treatment. She returned for the following year but withdrew due to a foot and shin injury. Last year, she and her partner Thomas Skinner were eliminated in the second week.

Appleton and Dowden had been positioned near the bottom of the leaderboard, and their public vote count was insufficient to advance them to the next round. Dowden, who has also lived with Crohn's disease since her teenage years, was hoping for a successful comeback this season.

The remaining 14 couples are set to compete next week when "Strictly Come Dancing" returns on Saturday. Appleton and Dowden are scheduled to appear on "Strictly – It Takes Two" to discuss their elimination.