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Strictly’s Katie Derham Weighs In On Anita Rani Controversy:��‘She Was Better’

Last week’s Strictly Come Dancing dance-off sparked outrage on social media after firm favourite Anita Rani was ousted from the competition by the judges in favour of BBC presenter Katie Derham.

Now Katie herself has come forward to admit that the Four Rooms presenter WAS better than her - but she doesn’t think the backlash is justified.

Speaking to Yahoo Celebrity and other press ahead of tonight’s Strictly final, she said: “If Anita were here alongside us all she’d be laughing about all the stuff that’s been in the press.

“One of us had to go, but she said to me afterwards, ‘Mate, it’s a format, it’s fine.’ That’s the way it is.

“We both danced our socks off, she had better socks than me, admittedly, that night.”

The BBC Radio 3 presenter added that it’s a “shame” viewers have put “negative connotations” on the dance-off.

“I genuinely wouldn’t let anything spoil the fact I’ve had the best time,” she said defiantly.

“Anita’s not upset. She’s got really loyal fans - and I’m one of them - of course they’re upset she didn’t get through. But that’s the show, there’s nothing either of us could do anything about.

“I’ve always wanted to quote Taylor Swift, I’ve just got to ‘shake it off’.”

Katie and partner Anton Du Beke will face Kellie Bright, Georgia May Foote and Jay McGuiness in tonight’s final for the Glitterball Trophy.

The Strictly final airs tonight at 6.35pm on BBC One