Strictly feud revealed as Les Dennis ‘clashes with pro-dancer backstage’ before shock axing

According to sources, there was tension backstage between Les Dennis and his dance partner Nancy Xu, which may have contributed to their poor performance on Strictly Come Dancing. The comedian and presenter, 69, was the first celebrity to be voted off the show on Sunday night, following a lackluster performance in the dance-off.

The clash behind the scenes

The trouble reportedly stemmed from a clash of energy levels between Les and Nancy. Insiders claim that Les, who described training as "draining," struggled to match Nancy's enthusiasm and positivity. This created tension and discord in the studio, as his mood didn't align with her dedication and perfectionism. While they never fell out and remained respectful, Les seemed to be going through the motions and became frustrated easily.

Polar opposites

Nancy, described as a "true artist" and dedicated to their performance, was disappointed not to progress to the next week. However, Les, on the other hand, was glad it was all over. The clash in temperament apparently made it impossible for them to gel as dance partners, which ultimately showed in their performance. Nancy was patient and encouraging, while Les would lose his cool at the slightest misstep.

A tough competition

Before joining Strictly, Les admitted to having no previous dance experience other than some "comedy dancing" in the West End. Despite facing a lot of challenges, Les and Nancy faced the first elimination of the series after being at the bottom of the leaderboard for two performances.

A disappointing exit

In the dance-off, Les and Nancy performed a Samba, but it wasn't enough to impress the judges. They were up against Nikita and Gorka, who danced a Charleston to Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)." While Les and Nancy's cozy exterior may have fooled viewers, sources claim that their energy levels and compatibility as partners simply did not match behind the scenes.

Les Dennis's representative did not respond to a request for comment, and the BBC had no comment on the matter.