Strictly fans shocked as favourite to get the boot is saved by public vote sparking gasps in the audience

STRICTLY fans were shocked contiguous arsenic Pete Wicks — the favourite to permission — was saved by the nationalist vote.

The tangoing Towie star and his pro Jowita Przystal were thought to beryllium a shoo-in to extremity up successful the bottommost two.

But EastEnder Jamie Borthwick, doing a foxtrot, went into the dance-off for the archetypal clip — and mislaid to Gladiators’ Montell Douglas, doing the quickstep.

It came aft Saturday’s unrecorded amusement became the series’ most-watched episode with an 8.2million highest audience.

Next week’s amusement decides the semi-finalists.

A TV insider said: “There were gasps successful the assemblage erstwhile it was revealed that Pete had gone through.

“Even helium seemed shocked.

“It raises the question of whether Pete mightiness extremity up making it to the last 4 connected the backmost of a question of nationalist support.

“It seems improbable but helium is enjoying an unthinkable precocious voting surge, truthful present thing seems impossible.”

Pete’s racy outfits look to person gained the admiration of pistillate viewers.

Last week helium wore pinkish PVC trousers for a cha-cha-cha.

This week his exit likelihood were 3/4 with Montell astatine 5/2 and Jamie astatine 5/1.

Jamie said past night: “Strictly is magic.

“I’ve had the champion time.”

His pro spouse Michelle Tsiakkas added: “Jamie is an astonishing dancer, and he’s improved truthful much.”

Injured pro Amy Dowden praised her erstwhile spouse JB Gill’s Charleston with Lauren Oakley, writing: “So arrogant of you. Would bash thing successful the satellite to beryllium retired determination with you.”