Strictly Come Dancing fans believe they have "worked out" why Richie Anderson and professional partner Giovanni Pernice were voted off the show in Movie Week.
Radio personality and Strictly super fan Richie became the second celebrity, after Loose Woman Kaye Adams, to exit the show following an entertaining Samba to the music of Lion King's 'Hakuna Matata'. The same-sex pair were dressed in Lion King onesies with Richie in a Timon meerkat suit and last year's Glitterball Trophy winner Giovanni donning a Pumbaa warthog outfit.
Richie and Giovanni scored 27 for the Samba but it was not enough for them to avoid the dreaded dance-off against singer Fleur East and her dance partner Vito Coppola, who performed their American Smooth to Part Of Your World from The Little Mermaid.
Both celebrities were around the middle of the leaderboard after Saturday night as they danced to save their place in the competition. Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke chose to save Fleur and Vito, which eliminated Richie, although head judge Shirley Ballas said she would have saved the radio DJ.
Strictly fans think they have the answer to why Richie exited after the third live show.
One person write: "Why was Giovanni having to wear that ridiculous panto outfit? So demeaning for the current champion. It was as if he and Richie were set up to fail."
A second commented: "He did not deserve to go, it was his silly outfit… Richie you have star quality!! Such a shame."
Another replied: "Richie would probably still in if wasn’t for the silly outfit he wore."
A fourth Twitter user added: "Richie’s fate was sealed when he appeared in that hideous outfit."
Following his exit, Richie spoken about his pride of being part of a "magical thing" that is the popular BBC One dance competition.
"Do you know what as a Strictly fan I always thought it was a magical thing to be a part of," he said, "I also want to thank this guy [Giovanni] as well, he’s been so amazing, and I feel so lucky that I’ve got to dance with you every day.
"Not only are you a fantastic dancer but you are also a fantastic guy on top of that. I want to thank all my family and friends and my other half Dean who is in the audience, I love you so much."
Giovanni added: "I have to say it’s been an honour to be able to dance with you because I know how much you love Strictly Come Dancing, you really are a super fan. And I’m glad that you got to do this experience and glad that I got to do it with you.
"It’s been a shame its been too short for us but I hope you’ve enjoyed every single second of it, and it stays in your heart forever. Look at us we’ve gone out dressed as Timon and Pumbaa. So lovely jubbly, well done Richie."
*Strictly Come Dancing returns next Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One.
