STRICTLY fans have turned on contestants with stepped up their war on contestants with dance experience – dumping musicals stars Amber Davies and Lewis Cope in the dance-off.
They got the fewest public votes following Saturday night’s quarter-final, leaving them in the bottom two.
And actor Lewis, who was in Billy Elliot The Musical on the West End as a child, was visibly emotional as he and pro partner Katya Jones were sent packing by the judges last night — ironically on Musicals Week.
Insiders called it a warning shot to the BBC, adding: “The viewers are clearly sick of seeing polished professionals on Strictly.
“The show is supposed to be about a journey — watching someone develop and learn how to dance. That’s the whole point of Strictly.
“Amber and Lewis both have dance experience, and seeing them perform to musical theatre songs — it feels unfair. Viewers love an amateur and it’s clear that no one picked up the phone and voted for them this week.
“If they start switching off, Strictly is doomed. It’s already been through the mill, given all the scandals it’s faced over the past couple of years.
“This needs to change. They need to get Strictly back to its best.”
‘Trying my best’
EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal had been the favourite to go last night after being in the dance-off FIVE times — more than any other contestant in the show’s history.
When Amber and Lewis were announced as part of this year’s Strictly line-up, the BBC was hit with “fix” claims by fans.
The pair were drafted in as last-minute replacements when Game Of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn quit for medical reasons and Dani Dyer fractired her ankle during rehearsals.
They have been slammed by some viewers every week, with Amber previously in the bottom two in October, when footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was sent home.
On Saturday night, she and her pro partner Nikita Kuzmin scored another perfect 40 from the judges for their Charleston to Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat from Guys And Dolls.
But the routine saw Amber slammed by viewers, who said she was “’essentially doing her day job”.
The former Love Islander has carved out a successful career in musical theatre over the last six years, with roles in West End productions including Bring It On: The Musical, Back To The Future: The Musical and a stage adaptation of The Great Gatsby earlier this year.
One fan said on X: “Amber has just come out of The Great Gatsby, where she did the Charleston every night.”
It’s been a long time since I’ve danced and I did, like, one show when I was 11, which was about 20 years ago
Lewis
Meanwhile, as a teenager, Lewis was part of hip hop dance troupe Ruff Diamond, which was runner-up on Sky One’s dance competition Got To Dance in 2013.
Another fan wrote: “Strictly can we please get back to having stars who have no dance experience? It’s crazy to have someone, as an example, that dances in music theatre competing. Not to mention others who competed in a TV dance comp previously.”
The continued criticism has been tough on Amber, who last night pleaded with Strictly fans to back off.
She wrote on Instagram: “Guys, please . . . it’s really just a television show. I wasn’t even supposed to be in the comp. You have no idea what we put our mind and body through for the experience.
“I’m really just trying my best with the opportunity that came to me.
“To anyone who has left a nice comment, thank you.”
Lewis has also come under fire since signing up to Strictly.
As well as featuring in Billy Elliot and Got To Dance, he has represented the UK at the World Hip Hop Dance Championships.
But he has hit back at criticism of his dance experience, insisting: “It’s been a long time since I’ve danced and I did, like, one show when I was 11, which was about 20 years ago.”
On Saturday, Lewis performed Dance At The Gym from West Side Story and scored 35 out of 40.
After the dance-off, judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Anton du Beke all voted to save Amber — who this week’s head judge Motsi Mabusi revealed she would also have picked.
Last night, some viewers admitted they were pleased Lewis was gone.,
One said on X: “It may be a popularity contest, but it is also a vote for those with little or no dance experience which excludes Lewis and Amber. I absolutely agree with that.”
Despite the controversy, Lewis last night said he had loved being part of Strictly.
He added: “It’s been more than I could have ever wished for.
“If someone would have said that I’d have done 11 weeks on the show at the beginning, I’d have been over the moon. So, thank you to the full show, to everyone for having a space where people can be themselves, grow, learn, express themselves.
“It’s been incredible and a memory that I’ll have for the rest of my life.”
Meanwhile, actress Balvinder had performed a powerful Viennese waltz to Never Enough from smash hit musical The Greatest Showman, which was praised by judges.
She broke down in tears following the routine and was consoled by judge Motsi, who stepped from behind the desk to hug her.
Motsi said: “I feel like what you wanted to say for the last weeks came out through that dance.
“It must be really demoralising, what you have been through in this competition.”
Balvinder wept a number of times on the night, prompting fans to back her.
A source added: “Balvinder was given a great song — so many people know The Greatest Showman, but West Side Story [which Lewis danced to] is a little more niche. It was so emotional — you could see it on her face. That translated to votes.”
Strictly has weathered many storms, but the viewers have, on the most part, stayed loyal
Source
Strictly has previously featured stars with dance experience, including Layton Williams, who played the title role in Billy Elliot The Musical aged 12, and Wicked actor Danny Mac.
But last year, insiders said bosses noticed a real switch in what viewers wanted after blind comedian Chris McCausland lifted the Glitterball with pro partner Dianne Buswell.
Sun readers have also demanded the BBC drop professional, trained dancers from the line-up.
String of scandals
Three in five of you said they should be banned from the BBC contest for good. Next year, the competition will undergo a major shake-up after long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman step down.
It comes after a string of scandals which have tainted the dance show’s reputation.
Last month, The Sun revealed a Strictly star had been arrested on suspicion of rape.
It came weeks after we reported another star of the BBC’s flagship dance show was arrested for an alleged rape.
The Met Police have also been probing the show after a whistleblower claimed that two Strictly stars had abused cocaine.
Insiders told The Sun the BBC was planning to revamp Strictly for the next series. It’s understood the backlash over the inclusion of dancers like Lewis and Amber will also shape the discussions.
If the BBC doesn’t sit up and pay attention, Strictly risks losing its spark for good
A source
Other recent scandals to beset Strictly include a bullying probe last year into Giovanni Pernice. The dance pro denied wrongdoing after actress Amanda Abbington complained about him.
He left the show in the summer of 2024. The BBC later apologised to Amanda after six of 17 complaints were upheld.
Meanwhile, fellow pro dancer Graziano Di Prima was fired from in July last year for gross misconduct. A video showed he had kicked celeb partner Zara McDermott in the back during rehearsals.
Then Wynne Evans sparked “Gropegate” with his pro partner Katya Jones, and was sacked from the Strictly tour after making a lewd remark at the launch event.
A source said: “Strictly has weathered many storms, but the viewers have, on the most part, stayed loyal.
“If they start switching off because they don’t like what they see when it comes to the talent on screen, there’s a big problem.
“As well as getting new hosts in, they’re going to inject some new sparkle into the show, and shaking up who they book is going to play a part in that.
“If you look at people who have won Strictly over the past few years — Chris, Ellie Leach, Hamza Yassin, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Bill Bailey — they all had either absolutely no training or minor experience in dancing.
“Fans are voting for the stars who’ve never properly danced in their lives. This is what they want to watch.
“If the BBC doesn’t sit up and pay attention, Strictly risks losing its spark for good.”
