(Image: BBC)

Wynne Evans 'set to leave' Strictly after backlash over controversial dance-off vote

12 Nov 2024, 12:34 by Emma Wilson · Irish Mirror

Wynne Evans is favourite to leave Strictly Come Dancing after the growing backlash over the controversial dance-off vote.

The opera singer and his partner Katya Jones were in the bottom two on Sunday, alongside Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu. The judges were split after Craig Revel-Horwood and Motsi Mabuse voted to save Shayne, while Anton Du Beke opted to keep Wynne and Katya. As head judge Shirley Ballas had the deciding vote, she chose to save the GoCompare advert star, leaving Shayne and Nancy devastated.

Fans were furious at the decision, with many calling for a revamp of the judging panel as the backlash grew against Shirley and the BBC One show.

However, Wynne is now favourite to leave the competition this weekend, after weeks of controversy surrounding the couple, including the ‘groping’ scandal that engulfed the couple last month.

Wynne and Katya were saved by Shirley and Anton on Sunday(Image: BBC)

Lee Astley, spokesperson for Bet Ideas, said Wynne is now odds-on to leave Strictly on Sunday after failing to impress the judges and fans. "Wynne Evans was fortunate to survive yesterday’s dance-off against Shayne Ward and we make the Welsh tenor the firm favourite to leave Strictly this weekend," he explained.

"Evans has been flirting with danger for a couple of weeks now and is odds-on at 4/7 to be eliminated on Sunday – comfortably ahead of Pete Wicks (4/1) in the betting," he added. The couple were awarded 32 points for their American Smooth, and after the judges split-vote fiasco, Wynne and Katya are heading to the show’s annual extravaganza in Blackpool.

Body language expert Darren Stanton said it was a shame Shayne and Nancy were eliminated, as they had become close in recent weeks after surviving the dance-off twice before. "Prior to the result, it was a very tense moment for both couples. Shayne and Nancy were standing close together and used tactile behaviour to comfort and reassure each other as they were waiting to hear," he explained.

(Image: Instagram)

"Although they were told they would be leaving the show, they both demonstrated how close they had become over the weeks of working together and building their relationship. When they were told they were leaving, Shayne was gutted. He immediately wrapped his arms around Nancy, resulting in a deep hug. This shows us they will miss being in each other's company," Darren said for Betfair Slots.

The devastated former Corrie star paid tribute to his Strictly co-stars as he bid farewell to the show, and he thanked the celebs for their support. "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 said.

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