Shirley Ballas slams 'fix claims' as she replies to 'childish' fan

Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has hit back at 'fix' claims after fans were left outraged by their decision to send home Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin.

After the couple left the show on Sunday night, viewers accused the judges of under marking them because they believe there were weaker dancers being score higher.

But Shirley, 64, was left unimpressed by the accusations and took to X after the show to respond to a fan, writing: 'It's childish to blame the judges'.

The viewer wrote: 'So frustrating when the judges can't mark properly as we then have the wrong people in the dance off and the wrong couple going home.

'Watching the smile fade off Sam's face after she did well each week was infuriating when her male counterparts had mistakes ignored.'

Furious Shirley clapped back: 'The show has been on over twenty years the public vote makes a difference. You the public can vote to save your favourites. It gets childish to blame the judges'. 

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However, her followers still insisted she had been in the wrong and accused her of overmarking and undermarking some of the dancing partnerships.

They said: 'But let's be honest, you are overmarking people like Wynne since day one, barely highlight any mistakes a male celeb makes and then clamp down on the slightest mistake a women eg Sam does of course it's gonna be affected and what the judges do taken into consideration';

'Dear Shirley, you blatantly admitted during the show that you favoured a contestant irrespective of his mistakes. While being over critical of Sam. And you all over marked Wynne. It does not go down well with show fans...';

'But as head judge you shouldn't be saying "I'll let that slide" to certain contestants. It makes there being judges pointless, especially when you have Motsi & Anton being the overmarkers. You & Craig should keep the scores balanced';

'The judges definitely favour other celebs more. Wynne has hardly danced the last two weeks but gets 30, while Chris does way more and ends up at the bottom of the leaderboard';

'Ah but you influence the tone of the voting Shirley' and 'But please could you explain why you said you weren't going to judge Pete on his mistakes but judge Sam's?. 

Strictly viewers were left outraged to see Sam and Nikita be the latest couple to leave the competition this week.

The pair were scored 29 for their American Smooth performance during Saturday's episode which landed them at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Then after a public vote then went head to head in a shock dance off against Montell Douglas and Johannas Radebe, which landed them being voted off by the judges.

But the scoring of the couple left fans outraged as they claimed they were unfairly scored. 

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one penned: 'This bottom two when Wynne and Pete are right there?!?!'

'If we don't see Wynne or Pete in the dance off next week i am gunna kick off.'

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 'I need Pete to be the dance off next week. We're losing decent dancers and he's just not there.'

'#strictly pete shayne and wynne were the weakest!'

'Pete should have gone home this week, he was atrocious. Yes I've read the spoiler & I'm really cross. The other pair should NEVER have been anywhere near the dance off'

'Poor Sam didn't deserve to go. Pete did. Shirley didn't judge him fairly, she hasn't all series. She needs the sack. She has ruined this show in the way she's picked favourites. Len never did.'

'Sam and Montel should never have been in the dance-off. There's some mediocre men that should have been there. Very unfair as they were both what strictly is about. Loved watching them both progress.

On Sunday, Sam and Nikita performed their American Smooth to Love Story by Taylor Swift again, while Montell and Johannes performed their Waltz to I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston.

With three votes in favour of Montell and Johannes, they won the majority vote meaning that Sam and Nikita would be leaving the competition. 

Head Judge Shirley Ballas also agreed and said she would have decided to save Montell and Johannes.

When asked by Tess about her time on the show, Sam said: 'I'm gutted, I just want to say thank you. 

'I've learned so much. Strictly has just brought that spring in my step back. It's just been an absolute joy. 

'Nikita, you've been key in helping me find that inner Sam that was there, who went a little bit quiet for maybe one or two years and has just come back. I'm gutted because I do feel like I still have more to give.'

Nikita said: 'I'm just in awe of this girl. Sometimes they say it's about the journey, not the destination, but to me it's about the company. 

'Sam you are the most wonderful company I could have had.'

'I'm guilty of watching the competition and thinking 'How do they have that relationship as a celebrity and a dancer?' Sam added. 

'All I can say is, the time you spend with each other and what you bring out in each other. It really is, and it sounds dead cheesy, magical.'

Viewers were treated to a performance from K-Pop's newest boyband dearALICE, as well as a dazzling Beyoncé medley.

The group dance saw Johannes channel his inner Sasha Fierce as the protagonist in the routine - which was filled with bejewelled cowboy hats, power ballad moves and sparkling sass.

Strictly fans were left in shock after the results were again leaked online in a huge spoiler.

Many were surprised at who ended up in the bottom two and had to dance their routines for a second time. 

While others expressed their annoyance at the leak which has been common most Sundays duringthe  recent series due to a notorious mole.

They penned on X (Twitter): 'actually so annoyed at this??? neither of the couples in the dance off deserved to be there when they've improved week after week and then there's others that have had several bad weeks and keep sailing through.',

'WHAT?! I'M FLOORED!! This has fully p***ed me off actually.',

'I'm sorry what!! My first question is why was either couple in the dance off??!! And 2nd why are the worse ones still in?',

'what the hell did i just saw ??? the two couples in the dance off was not supposed to be in the dance off to begin with.'