Strictly Come Dancing professional Anton du Beke says his celebrity dancing partner Jacqui Smith could be this year's surprise winner.
Speaking on ITV's This Morning on Wednesday, Anton, 54, said Jacqui had the "biggest improvement" of all the celebrities between the launch show and the first episode on Saturday.
The former Home Secretary, 57, danced the Foxtrot with Anton to Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life by Monty Python but got low scores.
They were given a three by Craig Revel Horwood and fives from Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse, which gave them a combined judges' score of 13.
Anton said: "Jacqui has got potentially the biggest journey of anybody on the show.
"Politicians are notorious for working from the neck up, everything is high intellect and there's not a lot of moving required.
"From the launch show to the first show last week was the biggest improvement of anybody. She was excellent."
"I think she's made biggest improvement of anyone," Anton added.
He said: "I think there could be a chance of an outright win this year but I would say that!"
Anton also spoke about how Nicola Adams makes Strictly history this year as the first celebrity to dance with a partner of the same sex.
He said it was "incredible" and "wonderful" but pointed out that pairs of two women and two men have always danced together in professional competitions.
Anton explained: "Anytime it's a first it's fabulous but you go to any team dance up and down the country, you always see two ladies dancing together."
"They've been doing it for years," he added.
