The Perfect Score

Just how many 10's have been given out in Strictly Come Dancing so far? 

(Statistics as at the end of Series 9)

In normal competition:

  Craig Arlene Len Bruno Alesha Darcey Total
Series 1 0 1 0 0 - - 1
Series 2 1 3 1 2 - - 7
Series 3 0 4 4 5 - - 13
Series 4 1 2 5 6 - - 14
Series 5 2 8 12 15 - - 37
Series 6 6 15 19 19 - - 59
Series 7* 5 - 9 11 15 6 47*
Series 8 4 - 9 18 20 - 51
Series 9 5 - 14 16 22 - 57
Total 24 33 73 92 57 6 286*

*A competitive group Viennese Waltz was introduced in series seven, for which the judges gave a single combined score for each couple, so while this is not credited to any individual judge, it is included in the series total.

And from that total of 286 perfect 10's given in the nine series of Strictly so far, 135 have been awarded to ballroom dances, 67 given for latin routines, and 84 for speciality dances.

But what about those routines that have scored the ultimate four 10's? To date, in normal competition, seventeen dances have scored the perfect 40:

  • Jill & Darren in the final of series two, with their Jive routine
  • Mark & Karen in the final of series four, with their Salsa routine
  • Matt & Flavia in the semi-final of series five, with their Waltz routine
  • Rachel & Vincent in week ten of series six, with their Foxtrot routine
  • Lisa & Brendan in the semi-final of series six, with their Quickstep routine
  • Rachel & Vincent again in the final of series six, with their Foxtrot routine
  • Lisa & Brendan again in the final of series six, both with their Foxtrot and their Cha Cha Cha routines
  • Ali & Brian in week eight of series seven, with their Viennese Waltz routine
  • Pamela & James in week ten of series eight, with their Viennese Waltz routine
  • Pamela & James again in the semi-final of series eight, with their Quickstep routine
  • Pamela & James again in the final of series eight, with their Viennese Waltz routine
  • Chelsee & Pasha in the semi-final of series nine, with their Paso doble routine
  • Jason & Kristina in the semi-final of series nine, with their Argentine Tango routine
  • Jason & Kristina in the final of series nine, with their Show dance routine
  • Harry & Aliona in the final of series nine, with their Quickstep and their Argentine Tango routines

     

    In the last three weeks of the competition in series seven, a fifth judge, Darcey Bussell was introduced, meaning that to get a perfect score was to get the ultimate five 10's. Three dances met the judges idea of perfection:

  • Ali & Brian again in week thirteen of series seven, with their American Smooth routine
  • Ricky & Natalie in the final of series seven, with their Quickstep routine
  • Chris & Ola in the final of series seven, with their Charleston routine
    •

     

    Find out how the professionals match up against each other on the League Table for professionals scoring 10s.

    Judges tend to be a bit more generous at Christmas, and we've seen a few more 10's given out in the eight Christmas specials so far:

      Craig Arlene Len Bruno Alesha Total
    Christmas 2004 0 0 0 1 - 1
    Christmas 2005 1 2 3 2 - 8
    Christmas 2006 1 2 2 2 - 7
    Christmas 2007 2 3 4 4 - 13
    Christmas 2008 1 4 4 5 - 14
    Christmas 2009 2 - 3 3 2 10
    Christmas 2010 0 - 1 1 0 2
    Christmas 2011 0 - 0 2 2 4
    Total 7 11 17 20 4 59

     

    Again, a bit more generosity flowing in the Christmas specials, with five more dances awarded that perfect mark:

  • Darren & Lilia in the 2005 special, with their Quickstep routine
  • Colin & Erin in the 2006 special, with their Quickstep routine
  • Darren & Lilia again in the 2007 special, with their American Smooth routine
  • Gethin & Camilla in the 2007 special, with their Waltz routine
  • Ali & Brian in the 2009 special, with their Viennese Waltz routine
    •

     

    Find out how the professionals match up against each other at Christmas on the League Table for professionals scoring 10s in Christmas Specials.

    All dances in normal competition awarded one or more 10s:

            Judges scores  
    Couple Dance Song Week CraigArleneLenBruno Total
    Natasha & Brendan Samba Love Is In The Air S1,W5 9 10 9 9 37
    Jill & Darren Paso doble Espana Cani S2,W7 9 10 9 9 37
    Denise & Ian Quickstep Sing, Sing, Sing S2,W8 9 10 9 10 38
    Jill & Darren Jive I'm Still Standing S2,W8 10 10 10 10 40
    Zoe & Ian Quickstep Almost Like Being In Love S3,W6 8 9 9 10 36
    Zoe & Ian Tango Argentino S3,W7 9 10 9 10 38
    Colin & Erin American Smooth Me And My Shadow S3,W8 9 10 9 9 37
    Colin & Erin Waltz I Will Always Love You S3,W9 9 9 10 9 37
    Colin & Erin Quickstep Nice Work If You Can Get It S3,W10 9 10 10 10 39
    Darren & Lilia Foxtrot Big Spender S3,W10 8 9 10 9 36
    Zoe & Ian Tango Argentino S3,W10 9 10 9 10 38
    Zoe & Ian Samba Aquarius S3,W10 9 9 10 10 38
    Louisa & Vincent Jive Smiley People S4,W3 8 9 9 10 36
    Matt & Lilia Waltz What A Wonderful World S4,W7 9 9 10 9 37
    Emma & Darren Waltz The Way We Were S4,W9 9 8 10 10 37
    Emma & Darren Paso doble Explosive S4,W9 9 9 9 10 37
    Mark & Karen Argentine Tango Goldeneye S4,W11 9 10 10 10 39
    Matt & Lilia Waltz What A Wonderful World S4,W12 9 9 10 10 38
    Mark & Karen Salsa Hot, Hot, Hot S4,W12 10 10 10 10 40
    Kelly & Brendan American Smooth (Love Is) The Tender Trap S5,W4 8 8 8 10 34
    John & Nicole Salsa Ran Kan Kan S5,W6 8 9 10 9 36
    Alesha & Matthew Waltz A Time For Us S5,W7 9 10 9 10 38
    Matt & Flavia Salsa Vehicle S5,W8 9 10 9 10 38
    Alesha & Matthew Cha cha cha Crazy In Love S5,W8 9 10 10 10 39
    Gethin & Camilla Waltz If I Were A Painting S5,W9 9 10 10 10 39
    Alesha & Matthew Tango Jealousy S5,W9 9 10 9 10 38
    Alesha & Matthew Samba (Reach Out) I'll Be There S5,W9 9 8 10 9 36
    Gethin & Camilla American Smooth Green, Green Grass Of Home S5,W10 9 9 10 10 38
    Alesha & Matthew Viennese Waltz Memory S5,W10 9 9 10 10 38
    Gethin & Camilla Jive Knock On Wood S5,W10 9 9 9 10 37
    Alesha & Matthew Quickstep Valerie S5,W11 9 9 10 10 38
    Gethin & Camilla Paso doble Standing In The Way Of Control S5,W11 8 8 10 8 34
    Alesha & Matthew Argentine Tango I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You S5,W11 9 9 10 10 38
    Matt & Flavia Waltz Open Arms S5,W11 10 10 10 10 40
    Alesha & Matthew Waltz A Time For Us S5,W12 10 10 9 10 39
    Matt & Flavia Salsa Vehicle S5,W12 9 10 10 10 39
    Alesha & Matthew Cha cha cha Crazy In Love S5,W12 9 9 10 10 38
    Austin & Erin Quickstep S'Wonderful S6,W7 8 9 10 9 36
    Austin & Erin Tango Libertango S6,W9 9 9 10 10 38
    Rachel & Vincent Rumba You Do Something To Me S6,W9 9 10 10 10 39
    Rachel & Vincent Foxtrot Close To You S6,W10 10 10 10 10 40
    Rachel & Vincent Waltz Angel S6,W11 9 10 10 10 39
    Lisa & Brendan Foxtrot Walking My Baby Back Home S6,W11 9 10 10 10 39
    Austin & Erin Foxtrot L-O-V-E S6,W11 8 9 9 10 36
    Tom & Camilla Waltz Moon River S6,W11 7 9 10 9 35
    Lisa & Brendan Cha cha cha Tears Dry On Their Own S6,W11 9 9 9 10 37
    Austin & Erin Paso doble Espana Cani S6,W11 10 10 8 10 38
    Lisa & Brendan Waltz He Is Beautiful S6,W12 9 10 10 10 39
    Tom & Camilla Foxtrot Here You Come Again S6,W12 9 10 10 10 39
    Rachel & Vincent Tango Here Comes The Rain Again S6,W12 9 10 10 10 39
    Austin & Erin Salsa Johnny's Mambo S6,W12 8 9 10 9 36
    Rachel & Vincent Cha cha cha Signed, Sealed, Delivered S6,W12 9 9 9 10 37
    Lisa & Brendan Argentine Tango Infiltrado S6,W13 8 8 10 9 35
    Rachel & Vincent Argentine Tango When Doves Cry S6,W13 9 10 10 10 39
    Lisa & Brendan Quickstep Dancing In The Dark S6,W13 10 10 10 10 40
    Rachel & Vincent American Smooth Mandy S6,W13 9 9 8 10 36
    Rachel & Vincent Foxtrot Close To You S6,W14 10 10 10 10 40
    Lisa & Brendan Foxtrot Walking My Baby Back Home S6,W14 10 10 10 10 40
    Rachel & Vincent Rumba You Do Something To Me S6,W14 9 10 10 10 39
    Tom & Camilla Salsa Pa Goza Con Fruko S6,W14 9 10 10 9 38
    Lisa & Brendan Cha cha cha Tears Dry On Their Own S6,W14 10 10 10 10 40

     

            Judges scores  
    Couple Dance Song Week Craig Darcey Len Alesha Bruno Total
    Ricky & Natalie Viennese Waltz How Can I Be Sure? S7,W5 8 - 9 10 9 36
    Ali & Brian American Smooth A Foggy Day In London Town S7,W6 9 - 9 9 10 37
    Ricky & Natalie Quickstep Down With Love S7,W7 9 - 10 10 10 39
    Ali & Brian Viennese Waltz Do Right Woman, Do Right S7,W8 10 - 10 10 10 40
    Ricky & Natalie American Smooth Over The Rainbow S7,W10 9 - 8 10 9 36
    Ali & Brian Charleston Pencil Full of Lead S7,W11 9 - 9 10 9 37
    Ali & Brian Viennese Waltz** Piano Man S7,W11 - - - - - 10
    Ricky & Natalie Foxtrot Too Marvellous For Words S7,W12 9 9 10 10 10 48
    Ricky & Natalie Cha cha cha Sunshine Of Your Love S7,W12 9 10 9 10 9 47
    Ricky & Natalie Waltz Kissing You S7,W13 9 9 10 9 10 47
    Ali & Brian Viennese Waltz Come Dance With Me S7,W13 10 10 10 10 10 50
    Ricky & Natalie Argentine Tango Verano Porteno S7,W13 9 10 10 10 10 49
    Ricky & Natalie Quickstep Down With Love S7,W14 10 10 10 10 10 50
    Chris & Ola Foxtrot I Could Have Danced All Night S7,W14 9 9 9 10 9 46
    Chris & Ola Charleston Fat Sam's Grand Slam S7,W14 10 10 10 10 10 50
    Ricky & Natalie Cha cha cha Sunshine Of Your Love S7,W14 9 10 9 10 10 48
    Chris & Ola Show dance Do You Love Me S7,W14 9 9 9 10 9 46
    Ricky & Natalie Show dance Last Dance S7,W14 10 9 10 10 10 49

    **A competitive group Viennese Waltz was introduced in series seven, for which the judges gave a single combined score for each couple.

     

            Judges scores  
    Couple Dance Song Week CraigLenAleshaBruno Total
    Kara & Artem Paso Doble The Phantom Of The Opera S8,W5 9 9 10 9 37
    Scott & Natalie Viennese Waltz I Put A Spell On You S8,W5 9 10 10 10 39
    Kara & Artem Argentine Tango Los Vino S8,W7 9 9 10 10 38
    Scott & Natalie Jive Hit The Road Jack S8,W7 9 10 10 10 39
    Kara & Artem American Smooth Cry Me A River S8,W8 9 6 10 10 35
    Matt & Aliona Samba Young Hearts Run Free S8,W8 9 9 10 10 37
    Pamela & James American Smooth Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps S8,W8 8 9 10 10 37
    Pamela & James Charleston Let's Misbehave S8,W9 9 9 10 10 38
    Pamela & James Viennese Waltz Unchained Melody S8,W10 10 10 10 10 40
    Kara & Artem Tango Roxanne S8,W10 9 9 10 10 38
    Kara & Artem Viennese Waltz Stop S8,W11 9 10 10 10 39
    Kara & Artem Rumba Samba Pa' Ti S8,W11 9 10 10 10 39
    Matt & Aliona Tango Hung Up S8,W11 9 10 10 9 39
    Pamela & James Quickstep Steppin' Out With My Baby S8,W11 10 10 10 10 40
    Matt & Aliona Samba Young Heart Run Free S8,W12 9 9 10 10 38
    Kara & Artem Rumba Samba Pa' Ti S8,W12 9 10 10 10 39
    Pamela & James Viennese Waltz Unchained Melody S8,W12 10 10 10 10 40
    Kara & Artem Waltz If You Don't Know Me By Now S8,W12 9 9 10 10 38
    Matt & Aliona Viennese Waltz Where The Wild Roses Grow S8,W12 9 9 10 9 37
    Kara & Artem American Smooth Cry Me A River S8,W12 10 7 10 10 37
    Harry & Aliona Waltz Come Away With Me S9,W4 8 8 10 9 35
    Harry & Aliona Tango Psycho Killer S9,W5 8 7 10 9 34
    Jason & Kristina Quickstep Bewitched S9,W5 9 9 10 9 37
    Harry & Aliona Argentine Tango Asi se Baila el Tango S9,W7 9 8 10 10 37
    Chelsee & Pasha Foxtrot Doesn't Mean Anything S9,W7 9 8 10 9 36
    Harry & Aliona Quickstep Don't Get Me Wrong S9,W9 9 10 10 10 39
    Holly & Artem Paso doble The Train S9,W10 9 9 10 10 38
    Jason & Kristina American Smooth Singin' In The Rain S9,W10 9 9 9 10 39
    Chelsee & Pasha Jive I'm A Believer S9,W10 9 10 10 10 39
    Harry & Aliona Charleston I'm Just Wild About Harry S9,W11 9 10 10 10 39
    Chelsee & Pasha American Smooth Time After Time S9,W11 8 9 10 9 36
    Harry & Aliona Viennese Waltz This Years Love S9,W11 9 10 10 10 39
    Chelsee & Pasha Paso doble Malaguena S9,W11 10 10 10 10 40
    Jason & Kristina Argentine Tango Assassin's Tango S9,W11 10 10 10 10 40
    Harry & Aliona Quickstep Don't Get Me Wrong S9,W12 10 10 10 10 40
    Jason & Kristina Tango I Will Survive S9,W12 9 10 10 9 38
    Chelsee & Pasha Jive I'm A Believer S9,W12 9 10 10 10 39
    Harry & Aliona Show dance Great Balls Of Fire S9,W12 9 9 10 9 37
    Jason & Kristina Show dance Dancin' Fool S9,W12 10 10 10 10 40
    Harry & Aliona American Smooth Can't Help Falling In Love S9,W12 9 10 10 10 39
    Chelsee & Pasha Rumba Because Of You S9,W12 9 10 10 10 39
    Harry & Aliona Argentine Tango Asi Se Balla El Tango S9,W12 10 10 10 10 40
    Chelsee & Pasha Quickstep Sing, Sing, Sing S9,W12 9 10 10 10 39

     

    All dances in Christmas Specials awarded one or more 10s:

            Judges scores  
    Couple Dance Song Week CraigArlene/ Alesha*LenBruno Total
    Denise & Ian Quickstep Sleigh Ride 2004 9 9 9 10 37
    James & Camilla Foxtrot Santa Baby 2005 8 10 10 9 37
    Zoe & Ian Foxtrot Winter Wonderland 2005 9 9 10 10 38
    Darren & Lilia Quickstep Jingle Bells 2005 10 10 10 10 40
    Zoe & Ian Rumba The Perfect Year 2006 9 10 9 10 38
    Colin & Erin Quickstep I Get A Kick Out Of You 2006 10 10 10 10 40
    Matt & Lilia Waltz Silent Night 2006 9 9 10 9 37
    Mark & Karen Jive I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day 2007 9 9 10 10 38
    Gethin & Camilla Waltz Amazing Grace 2007 10 10 10 10 40
    Matt & Flavia Rumba Last Christmas 2007 9 10 10 10 39
    Darren & Lilia American Smooth Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 2007 10 10 10 10 40
    Alesha & Matthew Viennese Waltz White Christmas 2008 9 10 10 10 39
    Lisa & Brendan Quickstep Sleigh Ride 2008 8 9 9 10 36
    Jill & Darren American Smooth Favourite Things 2008 9 10 10 10 39
    Rachel & Vincent Rumba 2 Become 1 2008 9 10 10 10 39
    Kelly & Brian Jive Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree 2008 10 9 10 10 39
    Tom & Camilla Foxtrot Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer 2008 9 10 9 9 37
    Ricky & Natalie Quickstep Jingle Bells 2009 8 10 9 9 36
    Ali & Brian Viennese Waltz Please Come Home For Christmas 2009 10 10 10 10 40
    Gethin & Flavia American Smooth Baby It's Cold Outside 2009 9 9 10 10 38
    Rachel & Vincent Rumba Miss You Most (At Christmas Time) 2009 10 9 10 10 39
    John & Kristina Quickstep Sleigh Ride 2010 9 9 9 10 37
    Vince & Erin Foxtrot Winter Wonderland 2010 9 10 8 9 36
    Debra & Ian American Smooth Baby, It's Cold Outside 2011 8 10 9 10 37
    Barry & Erin American Smooth Jingle Bells 2011 8 10 9 9 36
    Charlie & Vincent Jive Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 2011 9 9 9 10 37


    *Arlene Phillips judged Christmas 2004 to 2008, while Alesha Dixon judged Christmas 2009 onwards.