Strictly Come Dancing professional Nancy Xu has admitted she felt “gutted” after being booted out of the competition this weekend following a controversial final say by head judge Shirley Ballas.
On Saturday night, Shayne Ward and Xu performed the Rumba to Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper and received a score of 30 out of a possible 40.
After the couple performed in the dance-off against Wynne Evans and Katya Jones, it was down to the judges to decide who was going home.
Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse decided to save Ward and Xu before Anton Du Beke and Ballas saved Evans and Jones.
Ballas noted: “Well I don’t want to see either couple leave actually because I thought you both had a great run this series but based on this dance alone.
“Both of you had hiccups, a few little hiccups there, but one of you displayed a much more powerful and joyous routine for me so it was quite difficult for me to choose.
Shayne and Nancy were on the It Takes Two sofa
BBC
“But on this occasion, I am going to save Wynne and Katya,” sparking outrage amongst viewers at home,” with her decision being final as head judge.
Moments after the results, Ward and Xu spoke with Tess Daly about their time on the show, to which Ward noted: “I just want to say, you guys up there [the other contestants in the Clauditorium] are a dream.
“Every single day, coming in here and seeing you guys you helped me so much. I want to say thank you to the audience as well, for always being amazing for us all.
“This has been, honestly, one of the best things I've ever done.”
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu performed the Rumba on Saturday night
BBC
Whilst Ward was discussing his time on show, fans quickly picked up on the furious look on Xu’s face, with one writing on X: “I’m obsessed with angry Nancy staring the abysmal Shirley and Anton down."
Another added: “Nancy Xu’s face after losing the dance off suggests that the after party might get interesting.”
“Yeah, she was not happy at all and who could blame her,” a third agreed while a fourth declared: “I noticed angry Nancy! If looks could kill..” (sic)
Tonight, the couple joined It Takes Two presenter Fleur East to discuss their exit where Xu revealed her true feelings about their exit.
When asked how she felt about being in the dance-off again and their luck running out, Xu said: “We’ve been in the dance-off.
“If I am being honest with you, none of the dance-offs make us feel... It’s a dance-off. Either we leave or the other needs to leave.
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Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu and Wynne Evans and Katya Jones all faced the dance-off
BBC
“This year I found all the contestants, between all of them, they have a really strong connection. Like friendship, they supported each other week by week, day by day.
“I can’t describe the feeling but I was gutted.”
