Lacey Turner shows bandaged feet arriving at Strictly rehearsals

Lacey Turner has stepped out for rigorous BBC dance rehearsals displaying visible injuries, sporting bandages wrapped around her big toe and across the back of her heel after finishing high on the leaderboard during the weekend's live broadcasts. The EastEnders actress, who plays Stacey Slater, turned up to the training rooms in flip-flops, brown leggings, and a cosy cream knitted jumper featuring a chilli pepper pattern, attempting to conceal green under-eye patches behind oversized shades, according to reporting by Dailymail.

The physical toll follows an impressive start to the competition for Turner and her professional partner Vito Coppola. Performing a Cha Cha to Whitney Houston’s hit track How Will I Know on the first live show of the series, the pair earned a strong score and a standing ovation from judge Shirley Ballas, as detailed by Dailymail. Their performance secured them third place on the leaderboard with a total of twenty-seven points, picking up sevens from Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke, alongside a six from Motsi Mabuse.

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Turner recently described her decision to join the dance contest as part of a potential midlife crisis as she approaches her fortieth birthday, stating that she wanted to push herself out of her comfort zone. Before signing up for the BBC competition, the mother-of-three enjoyed an extended break from acting following her long-term tenure in Albert Square. She admitted that while she misses her character and hopes producers do not kill her off, she wanted to tackle something she felt genuinely terrified of doing.

Meanwhile, the wider competition has seen a surprise frontrunner emerge on the dancefloor. Social media star John Nellis topped the leaderboard during the opening weekend alongside professional partner Katya Jones, earning thirty-one points for a foxtrot to Alex Warren's song Ordinary, as reported by The Independent. Judges were visibly moved by the routine, with Anton Du Beke admitting he was stunned and Shirley Ballas declaring it the best dance of the night. Nellis, who quit his job as an air traffic controller during the pandemic to pursue content creation full-time, has since amassed sixteen million subscribers on YouTube and millions of followers on TikTok.

The current series has undergone a comprehensive overhaul. Longtime presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman departed at the end of the previous series, replaced by a new hosting trio comprising Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe. This transition has generated mixed reactions from viewers, with fans online praising Emma Willis for her presentation role while others debated the new dynamic, as noted by Dailymail and Metro. The professional lineup also saw sweeping changes, with several long-standing dancers departing and new talent joining the professional roster.

Insiders speaking to Female First revealed that casting internet creators and social media personalities is a deliberate policy by BBC bosses to attract younger and wider audiences as traditional television viewing habits evolve. Alongside Turner and Nellis, this year's eclectic roster features returning reality star Dani Dyer—who was forced to withdraw from the previous series due to an ankle injury—alongside singer Delta Goodrem, Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, and actor Lawrence Robb.

As rehearsals continue behind closed doors, attention turns to the upcoming broadcast schedule. Following the launch show and the initial live performances, the public will cast their votes online as the competition moves towards its first elimination, with the grand final scheduled to take place on December 19.