Strictly Come Dancing fans have hit out at their fellow voters and the show's judges after former JLS star Aston Merrygold and professional partner Janette Manrara were eliminated in the weekend's results programme.
Gone too soon. Hearts are breaking for @AstonMerrygold tonight 😭 #Strictly pic.twitter.com/A9yHnv6OXT
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) November 5, 2017
In one of the biggest shocks in Strictly history, Merrygold and Manrara lost out to The Saturdays singer Mollie King and her professional partner AJ Pritchard in the dreaded dance-off.
After finishing in the bottom two places after the public vote, Merrygold and Manrara - who had been tipped as possible winners - performed their Foxtrot for a second time to Connie Francis' Call Me Irresponsible, while King and Pritchard took to the dancefloor again to perform a Viennese Waltz to The Jackson 5's Who's Loving You.
After both couples danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts with Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli choosing to save Merrygold and Manrara, while Craig Revel Horwood voted for King and Pritchard.
Head judge Shirley Ballas, who had the casting vote, sided with Revel Horwood in saving King and Pritchard, describing it as "a very difficult choice".
In a post on Instagram, Merrygold said he was "gutted" to be leaving the show but added: "I'm not sad that it's over, I'm happy that it got to happen!"
Fans took to Twitter to show their support for Merrygold and to express their dismay:
Sorry but even Aston's worse dance is better than Mollie's BEST one!!! #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing #StrictlyComeDancing2017
— Ibrahim Banks 👑 (@TheShowOff85) November 6, 2017
How are Ruth and Susan still in. I wonder about the British public #strictly
— Kevin G Conroy (@KevGeo2011) November 5, 2017
I’m sorry but even for a country that voted for Brexit, this is a new low 😏😂#strictly https://t.co/YeiD6SENs5
— AB (@AmalB80) November 5, 2017
What??! Aston out of Strictly? This has to be the poorest decision ever by judges in the series’ history. Big mistake. Devastated#Strictly
— Karen (@KarenWa21361460) November 6, 2017
Gutted for one of the best celebrity male dancers @AstonMerrygold #astonmerrygold #Strictly #badsongchoice for the #viennese waltz
— Amra Hurley (@amrahurley) November 6, 2017
So disappointed to see #astonmerrygold leave #strictly. Sometimes viewers don't vote for the top dancers 'cause they think they're safe
— Mary de Ville (@MarydeVille1) November 6, 2017
@CraigRevHorwood #Strictly v poor judgement re Aston. That unjustified 4 sent him out. Lost respect 4 u & show.
— Claire Louise Tustin (@ClaireTustin) November 6, 2017
Here’s an idea @bbcstrictly - scrap the public vote and whichever 2 are bottom of the leaderboard go in the dance off - simple #strictly
— 13teas (@13teas) November 6, 2017
#Strictly Aston out, BREXIT, Trump as POTUS. That’s democracy for you!
— John List (@johndlist) November 6, 2017
#strictly fans going nuts over Aston. The same ppl that kept john sergeant in bcos it was funny. Should've put the same effort in for AMG
— Audrey Ashmore (@MissRey1979) November 6, 2017
#Strictly and #fix going hand in hand again. Farce.
— David Byrne (@davidbyrne72) November 5, 2017
The remaining nine couples will take to the dancefloor again on Saturday evening when Strictly Come Dancing returns on BBC One.
