Strictly Come Dancing viewers were stunned as fan favourite Lewis Cope left the competition on Sunday night.
The Emmerdale star, 30, and Katya Jones, 36, were voted out by the judges after going head to head with Amber Davies, 29, and Nikita Kuzmin, 27, in the dance-off.
Despite both being at the top end of the leaderboard for Musicals week, Lewis and Amber had to perform their routines once more to fight for their place in next week’s semi-finals.
Amber and Nikita – who scored 40 on Saturday night – performed their Charleston to Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat from Guys and Dolls, before Lewis and Katya performed their Salsa to Dance at the Gym from West Side Story.
Shirley said of the dance off result: ‘I’m speechless. Absolutely speechless. You have to dance your place in the semi-final. We are all admiring of all you. May the best man win’.
Motsi Mabuse had the casting vote and also decided to put Amber and Nikita through to the semi-final, after the other three judges voted for the former Love Island star.
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Strictly Come Dancing viewers were in shock as fan favourite Lewis Cope left the competition on Sunday night
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The Emmerdale star, 30, and Katya Jones , 36, were voted out by the judges after going head to head with Amber Davies , 29, and Nikita Kuzmin , 27, in the dance-off
Fans were outraged by the dance off results as many thought Lewis deserved to win this year’s glitterball.
They wrote on X: ‘I’m so heart broken for Katya, I really thought she’d win it this year’;
‘I can’t believe we’re never gonna see another Lewis and Katya dance. I’m devastated’;
‘I feel weird about that result. Lewis was clearly final worthy. Such a shame.’
‘So gutted. Lewis was incredible, he really didn’t deserve to go home this early’.
On Saturday night, Lewis was told by the judges his Salsa wasn’t his strongest dance and he got an overall score of 35.
Shirley Ballas told him: ‘There were missed connections and you looked a little bit tight.’
When asked by Tess about his time on the show, Lewis said: ‘It’s been more than I could have ever wished for.
‘If someone would have said that I’d have done 11 weeks on the show at the beginning, I’d have been over the moon and snap their hand off.
‘So, thank you to the full show, to everyone for having a space where people can be themselves, grow, learn, express themselves. It’s been incredible and a memory that I’ll have for the rest of my life, and [to Katya] I think it’s all down to you.
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Fans were stunned by the dance off results as many thought Lewis deserved to win this year’s glitterball
+9 View gallery
Despite both being at the top end of the leaderboard for Musicals week, Lewis and Amber had to perform their routines once more
+9 View gallery
On Saturday night, Lewis was told by the judges his Salsa wasn’t his strongest dance and he got an overall score of 35
+9 View gallery
Amber and Nikita performed their Charleston to Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat from Guys and Dolls
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Speaking to Lewis about their partnership, Katya then said: ‘I think you have created so many moments for Strictly Come Dancing that will be in the history books’
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Fans were shocked by the result. They wrote on X: ‘I’m so heart broken for Katya, I really thought she’d win it this year’
‘You’ve literally given me absolutely everything I could wish for as a friend, as a teacher, and yeah, I couldn’t imagine it with anybody else. So, thank you very much.’
Speaking to Lewis about their partnership, Katya then said: ‘I think you have created so many moments for Strictly Come Dancing that will be in the history books and you will be remembered as one of, if not, the best male celebrity we’ve ever had on the show, but also you will be remembered for being an incredible person you are.
‘Kind and genuine people still exist – what a gentleman you are, so humble and so kind.
‘And I’m so glad that we had a chance to see you and showcase your talent and what a beautiful person you are to the world. Thank you.’
When asked by Tess about the support he’s been shown on the show, Lewis said: ‘It’s everything, isn’t it? I mean, what is life without people?
‘And this show, I’ve seen how it’s brought people together, not just in my family, but it seems to lift people up. And it’s definitely brought my family, four generations, together every Saturday night – my Nana Dot sitting there smiling all the time.
‘You know, young boys who thought that dancing wasn’t accessible for them or whatever. They started dancing now and have sent us videos. And you know, if you can change one person’s life like that, then that’s enough.’
Sunday’s Musicals Week results show also featured the Strictly Professionals dancing a sizzling group number to Cell Block Tango from Chicago, plus a performance from the cast of the Olivier Award-winning musical Titanique.
The remaining four couples are through to next weekend’s Semi Final, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 6.35pm on Saturday and 7:45pm on Sunday.
Each couple will perform two new routines, while Kylie Minogue will perform with the Strictly Professionals and there’ll be further music from Five singing a medley of their biggest hits.