There were shockwaves at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom as the eighth celebrity was sent home from Strictly Come Dancing. Last night, after three long years away, the remaining couples took to the iconic ballroom in the hope of impressing judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas and the voting public.
On Sunday night Kiss FM DJ Tyler West became the latest contestant to leave the BBC dance contest as he faced CBBC star Molly Rainford in the dreaded dance-off, which is decided by a combination of the judges' scores and the public vote. Molly and her dance partner Carlos Gu performed their Jive to Bandstand by Barry Manilow again, then Tyler and pro dancer Dianne Buswell reprised their salsa to a KC and the Sunshine Band megamix in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition.
It was a decision that split the judging panel as both Craig and Motsi chose to save Molly and Carlos. Anton chose to save Tyler and Dianne, saying: "We have a situation here, where neither of these couples in competition deserve to be here, whereas they could have easily made the final."
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With two votes for Molly and Carlos, and one vote for Tyler and Dianne, it meant Shirley held the final decision and she chose to save Molly and Carlos. She said: “Well, I agree with my fellow judges, this is probably one of the most difficult dance-offs that we’ve ever had to choose.
"Both couples were outstanding, both improved their performances but I am going to go with what I believe in, and that is a quality of movement and precision in partnering, and I am going to go with Molly and Carlos.”
'Gutted' viewers took to Twitter to air their upset, saying they expected to see Tyler and Dianne in the final. Supporters included @GibsonHML who said: "So disappointed to lose Tyler & Dianne. They didn’t deserve to go after that performance. I expected to see Tyler in the final. Congratulations Tyler & Dianne for being so entertaining every week."
@JillHudson21 fumed: "I am going to repeat, the judge’s decision tonight was WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! A bloody debacle!!" @bethanysofiax said: "Gutted for Tyler." @sabrinastyled commented: "Sorry but Tyler should have won @bbcstrictly #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing some who are still in shouldn't be."
@swift1emal1k said: "Tyler you’re breaking my heart." @mydayinaline gasped: "Wow I’m surprised by that result. Thought Molly would go. Happy for her that’s she’s stayed in, but gutted for Tyler." But @ryan_da_lion sympathised: "Tough choice for the judges."
Other viewers had an idea why Tyler and Dianne might have been eliminated, blaming their elaborate 70s-style costumes including a wig for Tyler. One fan pointed out that JLS singer Aston Merrygold was voted off in 2017 following a tense dance off with Mollie King after wearing a similar wig.
@ThomDWTSA said: "The Afro wig that Tyler & Aston have worn is the REAL Strictly Curse." And @shoorayner wrote: "I said Tyler would go from #strictly yesterday when he first appeared with that wig - before they even danced."
OffBrandHeels said: "I think there are a lot of elements that go towards liking someone's dance and I think Tyler and Diane's outfits really screwed them over- what was the wardrobe department thinking?" And @uisgebeatha wrote: "Tyler doing his last dance in the bad wig."
When asked by host Tess Daly about his time on the show, Tyler said: "It’s changed my life. This girl here, has changed my life for sure. To think I was some shy kid who never used to talk to anyone, to dancing in front of millions, I can’t put it into words. It’s my mum’s favourite show, I bought her to Blackpool, my nan bless her was always watching over me on this journey.
"But more importantly this show has changed my life in the sense it’s given me confidence, a new found family, every dancer, everyone in hair and make-up, costume. The judges, it’s been amazing to dance in front of you every week, I genuinely mean that. But this girl here, I have been blessed with the best, she is what Strictly is about and she’s changed my life, I have no doubt she will be in in my life forever.”
And Dianne said about her dance partner: “Endless words! You have been an absolute joy to work with, when I say that, you have come in every single session with the biggest smile on your face and it lights up this whole ballroom. You are such a talent, you really are and you should feel so proud, I am so proud of you, your family are so proud and your nan is so proud of you. Thank you so much for everything.”
The remaining seven couples will take to the dancefloor next week when Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday November 26 at 7.15pm, with the results show on Sunday November 27 at 6pm on BBC One.
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