Strictly fans call for Shirley Ballas to be replaced as head judge after shock elimination

STRICTLY Come Dancing fans think Shirley Ballas should be replaced as the dance show’s head judge – by Anton Du Beke.

BBC viewers were left fuming after Will Mellor was booted off the show on Monday night.

The actor, 46, has narrowly missed out on a place on the final after a tense dance-off against Fleur East, which saw head judge Shirley have the deciding vote.

Following the shock results fans rushed online to beg bosses to make Anton, 56, the new head judge.

One angry fan posted: “You were brilliant Will you should have and did deserve to go through. Makes a mockery of the dance off and that dance alone. #Shirley why? #Anton for head judge, he is the honest one #Strictly#willmellor#WillAndNancy.”

Another posted: “@bbcstrictly#Strictly It’s time to stop judging bias and get a better head judge to replace @ShirleyBallas Stop judges from voting for their favourites. Only Anton is fair having been at the receiving end of votes himself.”

“I totally think it was a fix, Shirley saw the mistake, she had her head in her hands like she didn’t know how she was going to make the decision. It should have been easy. Will danced better in the dance off Anton was right. Why HE isn’t head judge I’ll never know #Strictly,” a third viewer raged.

A fourth echoed: “#Strictly Only one fair judge saw the mistake Anton should be head judge step down Shirley you’re biased.”

Another tweeted: “@bbcstrictly If you emphasise that the outcome of the dance off is only based on that one dance then you cannot say things like the public have spoken and throughout the series. Only Anton mentioned the glaring error. Shocking from a head judge.”

Someone else begged: “Please please please replace Shirley Ballas on @bbcstrictly next year, she’s so self obsessed and also very patronising. #StrictlyComeDancing”

The remaining four couples – Fleur and Vito Coppola, Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal, Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu, Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez – will take to the dancefloor next week for the final.

On Monday, viewers saw both couples perform their favourite routine of the night again.

Fleur and her dance partner Vito Coppola performed their Charleston to Tu Vuo’ Fa L’Americano by Fiorello, while Will and his dance partner Nancy Xu performed their Couples’ Choice to a 90s Manchester inspired medley, in a bid to impress the judges and make it through to next week’s Grand Final.

Both Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse opted to save Fleur, while Anton chose to save Will and Nancy.

The split meant head judge Shirley had the casting vote, and she decided to save Fleur and Vito. 

She said: “First of all, the British public has spoken and with respect I take that on board. My fellow judges have decided that they don’t agree, so I have made lots of notes here, both couples were outstanding and not only today but through the series.

“I have loved both of them, this is by far, even for me Craig, the most difficult decision I feel I have had to make. Based on micro details, I have decided to save Fleur and Vito.”

After his exit, Will said: “I have to thank you all for giving me this chance to put a smile on my mums face, she deserves it. I’ll take whatever I have learnt from this show forward in whatever I do because it shows you can achieve more than you think.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to get anywhere near this and I am so proud of what we have achieved but also everybody who has voted for me, who has supported me, the messages I’ve had from my local community and children. Thank you all so much, we really, really appreciated every bit.”

The remaining four couples will take to the dancefloor next week for the final time as they bid to lift the Glitterball Trophy.

Strictly Come Dancing: The Final will air live on Saturday 17th December at 7.15pm, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.