Strictly: Shayne and Nancy are eliminated
Shayne Ward and his dance partner Nancy Xu were eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing in a nail-biting Sunday night episode.
During the gripping results episode, Shayne, 40, along with 33-year-old Nancy, faced off in the feared dance-off against competitors Wynne Evans and his partner Katya Jones.
Tasked with repeating their performances, Shayne and Nancy delivered a passionate Rumba to Cyndi Lauper's classic Time After Time, while Wynne and Katya presented an elegant American Smooth to Grace Kelly by MIKA.
After both pairs showcased their dances once more, the panel of judges had to make a tough call, which resulted in a divided opinion leading to head judge Shirley Ballas having the ultimate deciding power.
Judges Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse voted to save Shayne and Nancy, whereas Anton Du Beke threw his support behind Wynne and Katya. With an even split and the final decision in her hands, Shirley, 64, gave her vote to Wynne and Katya, sealing the fate for Shayne and Nancy to depart from the contest.
Reflecting on his Strictly experience with host Tess Daly, Shayne expressed: "I just want to say, you guys up there [the other contestants in the Clauditorium] are a dream.
"Every single day, coming in here and seeing you guys you helped me so much. I want to say thank you to the audience as well, for always being amazing for us all. This has been, honestly, one of the best things I've ever done.
"I'm proud that I made it to eight weeks as a novice dancer. A massive thank you goes to this incredible human right next to me [Nancy], who has put so much fire in me and made me believe that I can actually achieve more if I let myself go. I'm sorry it didn't work out to the end, but I'm super proud that I got to meet you [to Nancy] and dance with you, so thank you."
In response, Nancy expressed: "I'm beyond proud of this dance partnership. Shayne from week one until this point, every second you put your feet on the dance floor you improved yourself. You're a deep thinker, you always doubt yourself, you never believed yourself, but I never ever questioned you. When I watch you, I feel proud because I've turned someone who has never ever danced in their life into an amazing dancer. You should believe in yourself. I adored this partnership."
Meanwhile, Nancy added: "I'm beyond proud of this dance partnership. Shayne from week one until this point, every second you put your feet on the dancefloor you improved yourself. You're a deep thinker, you always doubt yourself, you never believed yourself, but I never ever questioned you. When I watch you, I feel proud because I've turned someone who has never ever danced in their life into an amazing dancer. You should believe in yourself. I adored this partnership."
Taking to Twitter, now X, viewers were quick to complain about the dance-off results. One person said: "Shirley getting casting vote is a joke ..if it’s 2-2 should come down to audience vote" while a different account wrote: "The judges votes is totally unfair? if two judges save one...then the other two save another, that's 2 each? how can it be that it just goes on Shirley's vote?? Absolutely unfair! what's the point of judges votes? may as well just let Shirley decide?"
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday 16 November at 6:45pm for a special evening from the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom with the results show on Sunday 17 November at 7:20pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
