“I got goosebumps”: Delta Goodrem impresses Strictly Come Dancing judges with her first samba
Delta Goodrem has made a strong start to her Strictly Come Dancing journey, impressing the judges with her first competitive dance alongside professional partner Kai Widdrington.
Following last week's launch show, Delta took to the Strictly dancefloor for the first time on Saturday night, performing a lively samba to Baianá by Brazilian percussion group Barbatuques.
The performance earned Delta a score of 29 out of a possible 40, putting her second on the Week One leaderboard.
A samba to remember
Closing out the first live show of the series, Delta and Kai brought plenty of energy to the ballroom with their samba.
The pair delivered a confident routine to Baianá, with Delta showcasing her performance experience as she tackled the demanding choreography.
It was a particularly impressive way to begin her Strictly journey, with the Australian singer having only recently made the transition from performing on the Eurovision stage to learning the intricacies of ballroom and Latin dance.
The judges were impressed
The judges awarded Delta and Kai scores of 7, 8, 7 and 7, giving them a combined total of 29 points.
Delta received plenty of praise from the judging panel following her performance.
Motsi Mabuse was particularly impressed:
“I got goosebumps... Listen! You turned around and I’m like this is a queen. We are only gonna see the queen queening this season. Delta, oh my god!”
Craig Revel Horwood was equally enthusiastic, telling Delta:
"Wow, darling. You are one to watch. End of."
The score of 29 placed Delta just two points behind John Nellis and Katya Jones, who topped the Week One leaderboard with 31 points.
With 15 couples competing in the first live show, Delta finished second overall, ahead of Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola on 27 points.
Another big moment in a huge year
Delta's Strictly debut comes after what has already been an enormous year for the Australian singer.
Back in May, she represented Australia at Eurovision in Vienna with Eclipse, finishing fourth and securing Australia's best result at the contest in 10 years.
She then travelled to Glasgow to perform a five-song medley at the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony before making her Strictly debut this month.
With her eighth studio album Pure due for release next year, Delta's time on Strictly is another major chapter in an already packed 2026.
No elimination, but the competition is underway
While Delta has made an impressive start, there is still a long way to go.
There was no elimination in the first live show, with all 15 couples guaranteed a place in next week's episode.
Their Week One scores will carry over, with the first public vote and elimination taking place after the second week.
Next week will also see the competition move straight into Movie Week, with all 15 couples taking on routines inspired by the big screen.
For Delta, that means her 29-point samba gives her a strong starting position heading into her second dance.
After making the leap from Eurovision to the Strictly ballroom, the Australian singer has certainly made her first competitive dance count!
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