Despite wowing the judges with her moves and earning some of the competition's biggest scores, Molly Rainford found herself in the bottom two during the latest result show on Strictly Come Dancing. The singer and former Britain’s Got Talent finalist found herself up against Jayde Adams after failing to impress the audience with her school-themed couple's choice routine.
Viewers were stunned to see the red light of doom fall on the two couples in the fifth week of the contest, following a combination of the judges' marks and the latest public vote. Molly and dance partner Carlos Gu re-performed their couple's choice routine to the Grange Hill theme tune, as part of Strictly's tribute to 100 years of the BBC.
Then comedian Jayde and dance partner Karen Hauer took to the floor as they performed their charleston to Victoria Wood's classic The Ballad Of Barry and Freda (Let’s Do It) in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition. But all four judges - Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse and head judge Shirley Ballas - opted to save Molly, meaning Jayde was the fourth celebrity to bow out of the competition.
Speaking for the first time about finding herself in the bottom two, Molly, 21, told Rylan Clark on Strictly spin-off It Takes Two on Tuesday night (October 25) that she had to "hold back some tears". Alongside Carlos, the CBBC star said on the BBC2 show: "That was tough.
"I definitely had to hold back some tears because I was like ‘No! I’m having so much fun! This can’t be my last dance.'" Despite receiving a score of 30 from the judging panel – the couple’s lowest score of the series so far – the pair made it through to the upcoming Halloween week.
But some viewers wondered if she made a subtle dig at the show's choice of theme. Reflecting on the judges' critique from Saturday night, Molly said: "I think after watching Tyler and Dianne's couples choice and they did a similar style, the judges were kind of into it so we thought maybe there's a good chance of them enjoying our one.
"But I completely get what they were saying, I guess with the theme tune and everything it wasn't quite as exciting as some of our dances have been because there wasn't a lot of places to take it. So it was more down to us to take it somewhere else..."
During the upcoming Halloween week live show on Saturday, Molly and Carlos will perform an Argentine tango to Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush.
READ NEXT:
- Rylan Clark panics as BBC Strictly's It Takes Two interrupted with 'important' announcement
- Strictly's Gorka and Gemma stun with 'beautiful' photo as fans say 'couple goals'
- BBC Strictly's James Bye and Amy Dowden send message to fans after public vote
- BBC Strictly Come Dancing ladies dazzle at Pride of Britain Awards
- BBC Strictly's Jayde Adams confirms career plans after leaving show as she sends message to fans