Overview

• Aikines-Aryeetey opened Strictly’s 2025 live shows with a cha cha to Salt-N-Pepa’s Push It alongside Karen Hauer, featuring a push-up sequence with Hauer standing on his back.
• Judges awarded 19 points, with Craig Revel Horwood flagging timing, hip action and footwork and noting, “Push-ups, darling, are not in the cha-cha-cha.”
• Speaking to Tess Daly after the routine, the former Olympian grew tearful as he recalled last year’s knee injury and fearing he might not be able to walk or run again.
• Anton Du Beke clambered onto Aikines-Aryeetey’s back to recreate the stunt on air, prompting laughter in the studio and fueling a viral talking point.
• Viewers praised his vulnerability on social media, and with no Week 1 elimination, his score carries over to next Saturday’s show.