This weekend was a tough and emotional one for Strictly Come Dancing fans, as low scores and controversial decisions defined Saturday and Sunday’s shows.
After La Voix was awarded just two points by Shirley Ballas – and only 14 overall – she was hit with the lowest ever score for week four of the competition.
However, the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star avoided the bottom two, with Chris Robshaw and Balvinder Sopal forced to face the dance-off on Sunday.
But while pleased to see La Voix progress to Icons Week, seeing Balvinder in the bottom two despite scoring 28 was a tough blow to take.
And while EastEnders star Balvinder lived to fight another day, other fans were gutted to see Chris eliminated from the competition despite improving his score week on week.
Get personalised updates on Strictly
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
As sad as viewers were to lose Chris, sympathies were expressed for his dancing partner Nadiya Bychkova, who left the competition early for yet another year.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Reddit user The-Peel emphasised that in the past, Nadiya has been ‘repeatedly benched’, and then when she has competed, she’s been given partners with less dance experience than others.
‘She’s an incredible dancer and so full of joy whenever she sees her partners get better scores, let her shine for once Strictly,’ they added, defending Nadiya after Sunday’s results show.
Nadiya has thus far competed on seven seasons of Strictly Come Dancing, with her highest finish coming during season 19, as she reached fifth with TV presenter Dan Walker.
Her next highest finish came in her debut year, in Strictly’s 15th season, when she and celebrity dance partner Davood Ghadami made it all the way to sixth.
In her five other seasons, owing to her height of 5ft8in which makes her one of the taller female dancers on the show, she has often been paired with taller male partners and former sports starts.
Historically, former sports stars – like footballers and swimmers – have struggled to make into the later rounds of the competition, in comparison with other male celebrities.
Dancing with Lee Ryan (5ft11), David James (6ft4), Matt Goss (5ft11), Tom Dean (6ft4), and now Chris Robshaw (6ft2) has resulted in Nadiya finishing 14th, 12th, 13th, 15th, and 13th again during her time on the show.
Which celebrities are still in the running on Strictly?
The remaining celebrities and their pro partners still competing for the Glitterball Trophy this year are…
- Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe
- Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin
- Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon
- Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola
- George Clarke and Alexis Warr
- Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley
- Karen Carney and Carlos Gu
- La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec
- Lewis Cope and Katya Jones
- Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell
- Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington
Empty_Variety4550 said: ‘Unfortunately as the tallest female pro, her partner will always be predetermined without her or the celeb’s preferences really being taken into account.’
User CupExpensive7852 agreed, saying that her height can work against her when it comes to her being given taller celebrity partners that might have trouble with complex dance movies.
However, Grmelin303 offered a different point of view, arguing that maybe Nadiya chooses her partners, as opposed to being given them: ‘Maybe she likes a challenge.’
While Nadiya won’t be dancing in this year’s competition anymore, her fans will be able to see her dancing in the group routines performed by the professionals.
Strictly Come Dancing returns Saturdayat 6.20pm and BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.