BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Shirley Ballas hits back after fan says it's 'so frustrating'

Strictly Come Dancing's Shirley Ballas hit back after a fan blamed the judges for Sam Quek's exit. Viewers were surprised last night when the Olympic gold medal winner and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, exited the show.

Sam and Nikita scored 29 after their American Smooth to Love Story landed them in second to last place in the leaderboard. They found themselves in the dance off against Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe.

Sam was "gutted" as the judges decided she would be leaving the show. Fans following the show on the social media platform X were surprised over the elimination and took to the comments.

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A viewer named Lucy said: "So frustrating when the judges can’t mark properly as we then have the wrong people in the dance off & the wrong couple going home."

Shirley reposted the comment and reminded viewers the contestants in the dance off is decided by public vote. She told her followers on X: "The show has been on over twenty years the public vote makes a difference. You the public can vote to save your favourites."

Addressing her time on the show after she was eliminated, Sam said: "I'm gutted, I just want to say thank you. I’ve learned so much. Strictly has just brought that spring in my step back.

"It’s just been an absolute joy. Nikita, you’ve been key in helping me find that inner Sam that was there, who went a little bit quiet for maybe one or two years and has just come back. I’m gutted because I do feel like I still have more to give."

The mum-of-two issued a statement on her Instagram to reflect on her time on the BBC show. She said: "Firstly, I want to thank my teammate, Nikita. As the weeks ticked on I got to know you on a deeper level and the way I can sum you up to people who perhaps don't know you is to say that you have a really good heart.

"Of course, there is also your dedication to your craft and your professionalism which is something I respect so much. As a partnership, we agreed to shoot for the moon and if we missed, we might land amongst the stars."

Sam, who was born in Anfield and now lives in Wirral, spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview during her time on the show. Sam said she was just hoping to not "mess it up" when it comes to setting goals on the show.

Her partner, Nikita, insisted the competitive element of Strictly pales in comparison to making sure you savour the magic of the moment as he looks forward to what comes next in the race for the glitterball. He said: "For me it's just about people enjoying themselves and having a good time.

"It's very important that yes, we are doing Strictly. Yes, it's a competition and yes, now it's getting tough. But lets be honest, there is life outside of this. She has kids, she has a husband. I have a life."

He added: "You always just need to be on your toes and enjoy the weeks that you get because that is a blessing to be still here. People are getting eliminated so the fact that people even vote for us and we can be here is already so lucky."