Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas slams 'childish' fix claims

Some viewers complained that male stars got less criticism, resulting in two female stars - Sam Quek and Montell Douglas - facing the dance-off - but the head Strictly judge snapped back at her critics

Strictly ’s Shirley Ballas is fed-up with “childish” claims that the show is fixed and said the judges are not to blame for stars being sent packing.

So, ner... as children in a playground might say. Head judge Shirley was slammed after Sam Quek was sent home on Sunday night. Some viewers complained that male stars got less criticism – resulting in two female stars facing the dance-off.

But Shirley snapped in response that the judges’ scores do not determine the outcome of the vote. The judge said: “The show’s been on over 20 years. The public vote makes a difference.”

Shirley went on: “You the public can vote to save your favourites. It gets childish to blame the judges.” She also sarcastically urged another viewer to ensure they vote, after they suggested Shirley should be up for elimination.

Fans deemed Sam the “wrong” person to be in the dance-off, and Shirley responded to a fan who complained: “Watching the smile fade off Sam’s face after she did well each week was infuriating when her male counterparts had mistakes ignored.”

Shirley has faced ­accusations of sexism, with viewers claiming she marks female contestants more harshly than males, which she disputes, previously insisting: “I haven’t got a mean bone in my body.”

Former hockey star Sam and her dance partner Nikita Kuzmin were sent home after all four judges opted to save former Olympian and Gladiator Montell Douglas and her dance partner Johannes Radebe.