“Delusional”: Strictly Come Dancing Viewers Call for Shirley Ballas to Be Replaced After Lone Dance-Off Vote
Head judge Shirley Ballas is facing intense viewer backlash following Sunday night’s elimination show on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, with fans calling for her removal after she cast the sole vote to save former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Wright-Phillips and his professional partner Alexis Warr became the fourth couple eliminated on October 25. However, Ballas’s decision to back them over actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu reignited long-standing viewer accusations that she exhibits bias against female contestants.
The Sunday Dance-Off: How the Panel Voted
The bottom two couples took to the floor for a second time to fight for their survival in the competition:
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Jaime Winstone & Carlos Gu: Reprised their Foxtrot to Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need”.
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Shaun Wright-Phillips & Alexis Warr: Performed their Jive to Stevie Wonder’s “Faith” (feat. Ariana Grande).
| Judge | Vote |
| Craig Revel Horwood | Saved Jaime & Carlos |
| Motsi Mabuse | Saved Jaime & Carlos |
| Shirley Ballas | Saved Shaun & Alexis |
| Anton Du Beke | Saved Jaime & Carlos (Secured Majority) |
With Du Beke siding with Revel Horwood and Mabuse, Wright-Phillips and Warr were eliminated.
Fan Outcry & Ballas’s Response
Viewers quickly took to social media to criticize Ballas’s dissenting position:
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Social Media Backlash: Multiple fans questioned her assessment of the two performances, with comments accusing her of having a clear double standard when judging female celebrities and warning that the BBC risks alienating viewers if she remains on the panel.
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Ballas Defends the Routine: Appearing on companion program Strictly: Lights Up, Ballas stood firm on her verdict, arguing that Wright-Phillips was “absolutely the right one to save” and calling his dance “flawless.” The defense only amplified calls from frustrated viewers demanding changes to the panel.
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Official Stance: Despite the vocal social media criticism, the BBC has made no comment regarding Ballas’s status on the judging lineup.
Ballroom Highlights: Delta Goodrem’s Return & A Leaderboard Shakeup
Away from the judging dispute, Saturday’s live show delivered standout milestones:
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Delta Goodrem’s Injury Comeback: Returning to the dance floor after sidelined by a painful rib injury, Australian singer Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington earned the first perfect 10 of the series for their emotional Rumba to Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now,” securing a total score of 34 points.
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Tabby Stoecker Sets Season High: Winter Olympic champion Tabby Stoecker and partner Mark Karmalita took the top spot on the leaderboard with 37 points (including two 10s). Their poignant Couple’s Choice routine to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Stupid Song” was dedicated to Stoecker’s late father, earning high praise from Ballas, who called the display “absolutely exquisite.”
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Guest Appearance: Spice Girl Mel C joined the Strictly professional dancers for a dynamic, fitness-themed group routine.
First-Ever Triple Dance-Off Set for Halloween Week
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on Saturday, October 31, at 6:30 PM for its annual Halloween Special, featuring a historic format twist:
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Triple Dance-Off: The upcoming results show will feature the series’ first-ever three-couple dance-off. The three pairs with the lowest combined scores and viewer votes will all take the floor, with the judges determining who is eliminated before the show returns to its standard two-couple format the following week.
