Strictly's Dan Walker brands Tom Dean exit 'beyond comprehension' in fiery rant

The Olympic swimmer, alongside his professional dance partner Nadiya Bychkova, was the first celebrity to be eliminated from the competition

Strictly Come Dancing fans were in an uproar when Tom Dean was announced as the first star to be eliminated from the dance competition.

The Olympic swimmer, alongside his professional dance partner Nadiya Bychkova, was the first celebrity to be eliminated from the competition after a dance-off with Toyah Willcox and her pro partner Neil Jones. With Anton Du Beke wanting to keep Tom, while Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Toyah, it was down to Shirley. In the end, she decided to keep the 66-year-old, sending Tom home.

Viewers were furious with the decision and rushed to social media to slam the decision as a 'fix'. Dan Walker - who took part in the show with pro partner Nadiya in 2021 - was equally as confused about Tom's exit and took to his Twitter page to share his disappointment.

He said that the elimination "feels a bit messed up." Writing alongside a snap of Tom with Nadiya, he said: " @tomdean00 ’s departure will go down as one of THE early shocks. Lovely bloke who really could have become a great dancer. He looked like he was loving every second of it and @NadiyaBychkova looked like she loved teaching him."

He continued: "I’m not an expert - and I’m happy for someone to explain - but how he lost that dance-off is completely beyond my comprehension. Genuinely thought they could have gone a long way."

Nadiya hinted at her disappointment as her and Tom's early exit from the pre-recorded show aired, stating on Instagram: "I really appreciate all the messages but I'm not ready to talk about what happened tonight just yet." She then posted a praying hands emoji and a white heart.

During the show, Nadiya praised the Olympian, not just for his achievements but also for being a "true gentleman". She said: "He taught me how to work really hard and how to put everything in. And you know what? On this programme, sometimes to win, you don't need to win, and that's how I feel this year."

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