Shirley Ballas has addressed Strictly viewers trying to get her axed from the BBC show.
The head judge on the BBC show has been facing a backlash from fans after she chose to save Wynne Evans from getting the boot on Sunday night (November 10) rather than Shayne Ward. And she decided to hit back at a fan suggesting a petition should be started to get her off of the show.
Shayne, 40, and pro partner Nancy Xu, 33, went up against Wynne, 52, and Katya Jones, 35, in the dance-off. Shayne and Nancy danced their Rumba to Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper and Wynne and Katya performed their American Smooth to Grace Kelly by MIKA.
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Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse both chose to save Shayne and Nancy, Anton chose Wynne and Katya - leaving Shirley with the deciding vote, and she chose Wynne, saying: "One of you displayed more of a powerful and joyous routine for me - so it was quite difficult for me to choose but on this occasion I'm going to save Wynne and Katya."
Viewers flocked to X, formerly Twitter to complain and some accused Shirley of favouritism - including one who wrote: "Can we start a petition to get Shirley off this show, she doesn't even bother trying to conceal her favouritism anymore and she's head judge?? It's just not fair on the other contestants #strictly."
Shirley replied to the tweet, reports the Mirror, suggesting she wanted to leave the show as she wrote: "Where do I sign lol. Night night. X"
But many rushed to Shirley's defence, pleading with her to not take any notice of the criticism. One tweeted: "That's why you're a judge and they are not. I personally love you on strictly, so take no notice."
Another commented: "You have your opinion Shirley, as we all do. We don't always have to agree with your judgement but it takes no effort to respect you. I'm sorry you're getting so much negativity yet again, try to ignore it. You're my favourite judge and I love that you follow your heart."
Wynne revealed on his Radio Wales show why he believed Shirley had saved him in the dance-off. Joining Radio Wales co-stars Dot Davies and James Williams ahead of his show airing this morning, Dot said it had been a "stressful" night, exclaiming: "I don't want you to do that again!" She continued: "I've always said [Shirley's] a good girl, I've always liked that Shirley. Good girl, saw sense!"
Wynne explained how it had felt being in the dance-off and why he felt he had been saved. "Gosh, I tell you. It was pretty nerve-wracking to say. And also I think a approach it from a different angle, I think, to some people because I'm having a good time, thrilled to be there."
He admitted it felt like he hadn't done anything in months other than dance training as he was so exhausted. "I was talking to Pete Wicks about this last night and we were saying, do you remember how we used to go to the pub with our mates? Cos we've been in Strictly, in the bubble, for three months and so I haven't been out, I haven't done anything. I mean, Sundays you can go out if you want - last night I was in the ice bath so yeah..."
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