‘Shocked’ Strictly star defends dance-off performance after fan backlash

Eliminated Strictly Come Dancing prima Tom Dean has admitted his exit from the amusement was a ‘massive shock’ portion defending his dance-off performance arsenic ‘definitely improved’.

The Olympian, 24, became the archetypal personage to beryllium sent home successful the 2024 series, alongside pro spouse Nadiya Bychkova, 35, aft opening the amusement with their cha cha to Boogie Wonderland.

Following the results show, Ukrainian-born dancer Nadiya posted connected societal media to accidental she was ‘not acceptable to speech astir what happened’ yet aft thanking fans for their messages of support.

Their creation received a people of 20, and their combined effect from some weeks’ dances enactment them successful 10th spot retired of 15 competing couples with 43 – wide of the bottom, but successful a traditionally unsafe mediate presumption connected the leaderboard.

At the bottommost was Toyah Wilcox, 66, and spouse Neil Jones, who claimed 18 for their jive to Nutbush City Limits – which was added to their week 1 people of 12.

Fans had shown their displeasure implicit the result, with immoderate claiming the ‘wrong couple’ had gone location and declaring themselves ‘mortified’ and ‘very disappointed’.

During their exit chat connected Strictly’s companion amusement It Takes Two connected Monday night, gold-medallist Tom shared that helium ‘definitely wanted to spell further successful the competition’.

‘I’m gutted, there’s nary 2 ways astir it,’ helium added. ‘I’ve thought astir it loads and we’ve spoken astir it loads. I did springiness it my all, determination was thing much I could person given.’

The swimmer said helium had enjoyed each portion of his experience, dubbing it ‘really special’.

‘I don’t cognize what much either of america could person done. It was a genuine shock,’ helium revealed successful a peculiar pre-recorded chat owing to the athlete’s committedness to contiguous astatine the Well Child Awards, alongside the likes of Prince Harry.

Tom besides gave his instrumentality connected their 2nd clip dancing their routine, with 3 retired of the 4 judges opting to save vocalist and histrion Toyah implicit him owed to their opinions that helium had been retired of clip during his performance.

Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse decided that Toyah’s musicality was much important to determination guardant than what was perceived by fans arsenic acold much analyzable choreography successful Tom and Nadiya’s dance.

However, Anton Du Beke opted to prevention them.

‘I deliberation we nailed everything, it was a determination on, it was decidedly an betterment from the archetypal time, I was convinced,’ Tom told presenter Fleur East.

‘I was really, truly convinced we had done enough.’

He described their exit arsenic ‘a monolithic shock’ – but helium had benignant words for his dance-off rival and chap celebrities.

‘Obviously Toyah and the different contestants were incredible. I mean, what a harvest this year. Everyone is astonishing successful their ain right. I conscionable privation I could person stayed a portion of it for longer.’

Nadiya besides said that she was successful ‘shock and perfectly gutted’ that their clip unneurotic had been chopped abbreviated connected the show.

She besides backed up her partner’s rehearsal stamina and show connected the dancefloor, claiming: ‘On Thursday, we rehearsed 10 sets of thee. This antheral could person done that cha cha cha with his eyes closed. And helium did.’

Toyah’s spouse Neil besides straight responded to immoderate instrumentality comments, defending his celeb by reminding everyone she was ‘a implicit beginner’ and adding: ‘I privation cipher went location truthful we could spot everyone improve.’

Strictly: It Takes Two aerial weeknights connected BBC2. Strictly Come Dancing continues connected Saturday astatine 6.25pm connected BBC1.

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