Strictly Come Dancing fans slam show as 'fix' after surprise elimination
by Laura Carreno · DevonLiveSam Quek was eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing this Sunday - with viewers left fuming over 'unfair scores'.
The first ever Icons Week on Strictly Come Dancing saw judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse deliver their assessments this Saturday.
After performing an American Smooth, Sam Quek and Nikita received applause from the judges who commended Sam for her resilience following a slight hiccup the previous week. Consequently, the duo scored a total of 29 out of a possible 40.
However, this unexpectedly placed Sam at the bottom of the leaderboard alongside Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe.
Gladiators star Montell impressed the audience with a Waltz to Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You, earning her a score of 35. Despite this, the public vote led to her facing the dance-off, reports the Mirror.
The dreaded dance-off on Sunday, November 3, saw Montell and Sam compete, with the judges unanimously voting to save Montell and Johannes. The results sparked outrage among fans who felt that Sam had been underscored by the judges initially.
One wrote: "Pete should have gone home this week, he was atrocious. Yes I've read the spoiler and I'm really cross. The other pair should NEVER have been anywhere near the dance off," whilst another added: "This bottom two when Wynne and Pete are right there?" A third penned: "If we don't see Wynne or Pete in the dance off next week i am gunna kick off."
"I need Pete to be the dance off next week. We're losing decent dancers and he's just not there," a fourth penned, with a fifth adding: "#strictly pete shayne and wynne were the weakest!"
Another fan noted that it wasn't the right bottom two in their eyes, sharing: "Sam and Montell 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."
Sam opened up about her departure from the show, expressing: "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 Kuzmin, her dance partner, added: "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."