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Jaime Winstone speaks about Strictly's first dance-off and her father Ray's support

Strictly contestant Jaime Winstone and partner Carlos Gu survived the series' first dance-off against Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden. She has since described the experience as emotional and said her father, actor Ray Winstone, told her to pick herself up.

3 outlets · 1L · 0C · 2R First reported Account updated
Image: Daily Express
Image: The Independent
Image: Daily Mail

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The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Jaime Winstone and her partner Carlos Gu, the reigning Strictly Come Dancing champion, landed in the first dance-off of the 2026 series on Sunday 4 October, against celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden. Mixed · 2Winstone and Gu danced again to Pretty Woman, and the judges voted unanimously to save them, so Appleton and Dowden were eliminated. Left · 1The Independent reports that the pair had scored 21 for their week one tango and week two cha cha cha, leaving them mid-table on the leaderboard.

Right · 1On BBC Morning Live on Tuesday 6 October, Winstone said it had been an emotional weekend, and that she was glad to have been able to dance again and "do it right". Right · 1She said her father, actor Ray Winstone, is watching and is "suddenly a fifth judge", and that he told her to "pick yourself up kid and crack on". Right · 1She added that he is "super proud" of her and "loving Carlos", and that her mum and dad are enjoying the series.

Left · 1On the companion show It Takes Two, Winstone, 41, called being in the dance-off "a horrific feeling" while also describing "personal growth" in improving the routine. Left · 1She became tearful as Gu said his "heart was broken" for her, and spoke of "insecurities" and of feeling vulnerable on camera. She used the line "it is not how you fall, it’s how you get yourself up again". Left · 1Dowden told It Takes Two she was "gutted" to be the first dancer eliminated for the second year running, saying Appleton had grown in confidence.

Right · 1Ray Winstone said earlier this year on The One Show that he was nervous for his daughter, who he said would be "as fit as a butcher's dog". Strictly returns on Saturday 10 October at 6.15pm on BBC One.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
The Independent leads with Winstone's distress, focusing on the emotional toll of the dance-off.
Emphasis
Her tears, insecurities and vulnerability, plus scores and Dowden's elimination.
Leaves out or plays down
Mentions her father only as a descriptor, not his advice or support.
Charged language
“horrific”
For example
“Strictly star opens up about ‘horrific’ results show experience after dance off” — The Independent

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right2 outlets

Framing
The Daily Express leads with the famous dad's reaction, giving a supportive, upbeat family angle.
Emphasis
Ray Winstone's encouragement, Winstone's positivity, and his earlier One Show comments.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not give the leaderboard scores or Dowden's reaction to the elimination.
Charged language
“crushing setback”
For example
“Strictly’s Jaime Winstone reveals famous dad’s reaction to dance-off” — Daily Express