STRICTLY Come Dancing fans have been left furious after the “wrong person” landed in the dance-off, while a favourite to leave was saved.
On tonight’s results show, Musicals Week proved to have more than one twist up its sleeve with who was being sent through to the semi-finals.
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał were saved by the public, despite falling to the bottom of the leaderboard and being considered the top to exit this week.
Instead, long-standing favourites Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec had to dance off against Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe.
Both had to redance their Musicals routine, with Montell and Johannes performing a Rumba to I’m Here from the musical The Color Purple, while Tasha and Aljaž performed their Argentine Tango to Ex-Wives from Six.
Montell and Johannes have been in the dance-off four times in the show’s run, and their luck officially ran out this weekend with the judges voting unanimously to send them home.
Saying goodbye to the show, Montell said: “[Johannes] has been amazing. Strictly has touched me in ways I never knew possible. I’m an Olympian and a Gladiator, but I have honestly struggled with confidence my whole life and being on the show, with the beautiful crew, the judges, the cast has just been such an honour.”
Johannes told Montell: “I am so proud of you, because you are a non-dancer. But the one thing that you have done every single week is turn out beautiful dancing.
“So I want to say to you, thank you for respecting our art form of Ballroom and Latin. The way you handled it was like a true pro. You’re my winner.”
“I have to say thank you to you because I really have found a friend and a brother in this man,” Montell added of Johannes.
“I mean it from the bottom of my heart, I hope he’s in my life forever, because we have something very special.”
But viewers were less than pleased with how the results played out, noting on Saturday Montell and Johannes had been put in the “death slot” with a rumba, which is famously the most difficult dance the competitors have to tackle.
As the results were read out by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, viewers hit out at Pete, who they said “didn’t deserve” his slot after he messed up his routine on Saturday’s show.
Taking to X, one viewer wrote: “When Pete goes through and Tasha is in the dance off, it’s clear that the voting isn’t for the dancing prowess.”
“Poor Montell. She never, ever got the recognition she deserved for being a complete non-dancer while Pete has smoke blown up his a**e while he makes mistake after mistake after mistake,” said a second.
“No offence to Pete, because he is doing his competition fairly, he is learning and loving it. But let’s be honest, on a pure dance point of view, he should have been out. Because far better dancers are present,” wrote a third.
While a fourth said: “Tasha and montell in the bottom two. Come on, really?? While pete is saved. Im so over this”
However, others were in support of Pete, with one writing: “Tasha in the dance off? Madness. But I think I’d rather see Chris and Pete go through. It’s not just a dance competition, it’s “the journey”!”
“I’m voting for Pete to win this year. It’s a stick up to those who were complaining last year that @LaytonWilliams was too good / had dance background. UK, u wanted ur winner to have “gone thru the journey”? This year, you’re getting Pete. PETE FOR THE WIN,” wrote another.
While a third wrote: “Pete & Jowita are through to the #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing Semi Finals. Yes he isn’t the best dancer in the competition but that for me doesn’t matter. He’s such a humble guy who’s enjoying the whole experience and as a novice dancer he’s improved since Week 1.”
Five couples now remain in the competition, and will have to perform two dances each next week in order to fight for their place in the finals.
Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
