The latest elimination from Strictly Come Dancing has left viewers fuming, as Olympian and Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was sent home following a controversial dance-off.
Unanimous Decision Sees Olympian Exit
On Sunday night's results show, Harry and his professional partner Karen Hauer found themselves in the bottom two for the first time, facing Drag Race UK star La Voix and her partner Aljaz Skorjanec. This came after the leaderboard placed La Voix at the very bottom with a score of 29 points, making her the only competitor to score under 30. Harry was just above her with 30 points.
When the two couples performed again in the dance-off, the panel of judges—Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, and Motsi Mabuse—all made the unanimous decision to save La Voix, thereby eliminating Harry from the competition.
Viewer Backlash Erupts on Social Media
The judges' verdict was met with immediate and fierce criticism from fans of the show, who swiftly took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to voice their disbelief.
One frustrated viewer posted: "Sorry I love La Voix but surely Harry was the better dancer in the dance off? Not even one vote to save Harry? :( #Strictly."
Another simply declared the outcome "an absolutely ridiculous result!", while a third called it a "fix", adding that it was "very sad to see." Some speculated on the motivation behind the decision, with one comment reading: "They clearly want La Voix through to Blackpool." Another disgruntled fan stated, "Nope. La Voix should have gone weeks ago. Had enough now."
A Gracious Exit and Look Ahead
Despite the disappointing result, Harry was gracious in his farewell. He thanked his professional partner, Karen Hauer, saying, "I just want to thank Karen, genuinely, you have given me an opportunity to shine." He reflected on the challenge of transitioning from his logical, athletic background to the world of dance, calling the experience "a dream come true" and "a celebration."
He also shared a touching anecdote about his daughter, stating he wanted to show her that "no matter what happens, there’s always a silver lining."
Karen Hauer responded with equal warmth, saying she was "extremely proud" and praised Harry as a "gentleman" and a "hard worker." She added, "It was an honour to teach you."
The results show also featured a musical performance from James Morrison and a poignant group performance by the Strictly professionals with the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment to mark Remembrance Sunday.
The remaining eight couples will return to the ballroom next Saturday at 6.25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with the subsequent results show airing on Sunday, November 16 at 7.15pm.
