Tom Fletcher speaks out on 'Strictly' result amid McFly fans' fix claims
Tom Fletcher has confessed he was "amazed" to have got as far as he did in Strictly Come Dancing as the competition is so high this year.
The McFly singer has spoken out about becoming the eighth celebrity to leave the BBC dance contest after some fans claimed the results had been fixed to ensure Fletcher and partner Amy Dowden landed in the dance-off.
Fletcher, 36, said: "I am, of course absolutely gutted to have been voted off @bbcstrictly but the competition is so high this year that I’m amazed and proud that I got as far as I did! Going out on Musicals Week with a dance that genuinely meant something to me was actually really special."
Watch: Who is Strictly's Tom Fletcher?
The Obviously singer and father-of-three admitted he is feeling sad to be out of the competition and said he will miss dancing with partner Dowden.
Read more: Strictly's Dan Walker speaks out on public vote after surviving yet another week
He added: "The truth is though, that as much as I’ll miss the excitement of the live show on a Saturday night, the thing I’ll miss the most is simply hanging out with Amy every day. We have had so much fun and after 11 weeks of dancing with her every day it feels very strange to be sitting in a quiet, empty house today! But I know that the only reason it’s sad and a little difficult today is because I’ve had such a good time and I’m really thankful for that."
Fletcher's wife Giovanna Fletcher - with whom he shares sons Buzz, seven, Buddy, five, and Max, three - also voiced her pride at how far the singer had got in the competition.
She posted on Instagram: "It’s been such a joy watching these two over the last couple of months. @tomfletcher and @amy_dowden - you’ve put a smile not only on my face, but on Buzz, Buddy and Max’s faces too. You went into this wanting to make us proud, and you’ve surpassed that. You’ve brought dance into our lives - made us dance on the kitchen tiles again and encouraged three little boys to shake their booties with great enthusiasm.
"Hold your heads high and be proud of all you’ve achieved - and the friendships that have been formed whilst doing it!"
Fletcher landed in the dance-off alongside CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson after coming joint-bottom of the leaderboard for his Les Miserables-themed couple's choice routine, which he dedicated to his sister Carrie, a West End star.
Tilly Ramsay - who had been in the dance-off for two weeks running - escaped elimination after the judges scored her a perfect 40 for her own couple's choice - putting her at the top of the leaderboard.
BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker managed to avoid being in the dance-off yet again, despite being joint-bottom of the judges' score with Fletcher.
Following the result many McFly fans expressed their discontent on social media, with some even claiming the result was fixed.
Beth tweeted: "Absolute FIX!! So much favouritism! Tom and Amy didn’t deserve to leave they had soo much more to give! And criticising him because he didn’t cry?!! Won’t be watching this anymore.. #Strictly2021 #strictlyfix #strictlyresults."
Zoe agreed: "Wtf!! Is wrong with strictly? Tom shouldn’t have left, he was way better than Rhys and Dan. This is so not right and total fix."
And Amy fumed: "I am NEVER going to watch #Strictly ever again. What an absolute JOKE. Funny how most of the contestants who are left work for the BBC. #fix @TomFletcher didn't deserve that, him and Amy were amazing."
Read more: Adam Peaty addresses his mum's 'Strictly Come Dancing' 'fix' comment
McFly's Harry Judd won the show in 2010.
Watch: Tom Fletcher has been eliminated from Strictly