Strictly's Bobby Brazier dealt heartbreaking blow hours before live semi-final

Strictly Come Dancing's Bobby Brazier has been dealt a heartbreaking blow hours before the live semi-final show. Tonight, the remaining celebrity couples will take to the ballroom floor in a bid to fight for a place in the final.

However, the bookmakers believe Bobby and Dianne Buswell's time in the competition is up, meaning they could miss out on lifting the Glitterball Trophy next weekend.

BetVictor has given Bobby and Dianne odds of 4/7 of leaving the competition, with Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe close behind with odds of 11/8. At the other end of the scale, Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola are the current frontrunners to win with odds of 1/5.

Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin also have a chance of lifting the Glitterball Trophy with odds of 12/1. Heart Bingo’s Strictly expert and professor of dance, Dr Jill Rose Jacobs, has also shared her thoughts on who will make the final and who will miss out.

She said:"In the semi-final, Bobby will be dancing a Paso Doble and Quickstep. Bobby appears to be struggling with confidence; however, if he can focus on his strengths, elegant lines, and natural fluidity of the moment, he could survive elimination.

“The Quickstep will come easy to Bobby, considering past performances, but Bobby will need to channel passion and maturity in the Paso Doble.

"Bobby performs with more confidence when he feels he looks the part. Last week, not looking like Patrick Swayze in the dance contributed to a less-than-desirable performance.

"If performance elements fall into place, Bobby may dance into favouritism once again.”

“It also brings to the stage that the outcome of the semi-final depends not only on how the celebrity performs but on how the judging panel and viewers measure the merit of each contestant's routine."

She added: "My bet is on Layton to chasse away with the Glitterball Trophy.”

Layon and Nikita, who scored the first 40 of the series last week, will be performing the Rumba and the Charleston on Saturday night.

Dr Jill went on: "In Musicals Week, Layton’s routine scored the first 40 of the series! Layton's comeback proved a strength of character and an ability to excel in dance performance.

"All the elements of performance fell into place. This is what Layton needs to happen again in the semi-final.”

“In the semi-final, Layton will dance the Rumba and a Charleston," the dance expert said before adding: "Looking back on his performances throughout his time in this series, Layton will be successful if he can channel his exceptional energy and skill into performance, including the side-by-side dancing as he did perfectly last week.

"Layton will also need the costuming department's support to spotlight his athletic form rather than skirts with (flat) jazz shoes that cut his aesthetic line."

Strictly Come Dancing airs tonight at 7.35pm on BBC One.