Chris Appleton partner Kim Kardashian gave his Strictly Come Dancing routine a two before later upgrading it to eight and eight, Amy Dowden said on the red carpet at the WellChild Awards. Appleton did not treat the first score as the final word. He turned it into a 10 with his own math.
Kim Kardashian's two
Appleton said, "It's been lovely. She sent me a beautiful arrangement of flowers and she didn't have to do that," adding, "And she's been asking me how I've been getting on." That puts the score in a broader friend-and-client context: Kardashian was not only watching, but staying in touch while he competes on the twenty-fourth series of Strictly.
Dowden made the first verdict plain when she said, "She did score you a two when she watched your dance though". Appleton answered with a line that fits the show’s light-touch scoring culture and the social setting around it: "Well, she did first, but then she scored me an eight and eight, and two equals 10, so I'm going to take it as a 10". It is a neat way to turn a harsh read into a better headline for the dance floor.
Strictly and the UK
Appleton said the UK show was the better fit for him than Dancing with the Stars in the US: "I have friends who've taken part in Dancing with the Stars in the US, but for me, Strictly felt like the right fit". He also tied the decision to place and identity, saying, "Being from the UK, there's something really special about taking part in such an iconic British show - it genuinely feels like coming home to my roots."
That return carries family weight as well. Appleton said, "Having my family here as well makes it even more meaningful, because they're so excited to support me throughout the whole journey. I can’t wait to be in London and head back home to Leicester too." He added that he is hoping to leave with "a completely new skill" and "memories that will stay with me forever," which is the practical goal for any contestant trying to make a run count beyond the weekly scores.
Chris Appleton on Strictly
Appleton’s profile gives the scoreline extra reach. He has appeared on The Kardashians and has styled Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera and Ariana Grande, so Kardashian’s read on his dancing is more than a throwaway celebrity aside. When a client who already knows the room gives a two, then an eight and eight, the story becomes less about approval and more about how quickly a performance can change once it gets a second look.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 26 September on One and iPlayer, and Appleton’s run now has a simple test attached to it: whether he can turn the first impression into something closer to his own 10. For a contestant who says he came home for the experience, the score is already doing part of the work.
