Strictly's Neil Jones defends Toyah Willcox after Nadiya slammed elimination result

Neil Jones stands by Toyah Willcox

Strictly professional Neil Jones has come to the defense of Toyah Willcox after the judges controversially saved them in a surprising elimination round. Despite receiving the lowest scores on the leaderboard, Neil and Toyah were chosen over Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova to stay in the competition.

Neil's praise for Toyah

Neil shared a photo from their dance routine and praised Toyah for her determination and improvement throughout the competition. He highlighted her progress, stating that although she may not be a professional dancer, she is dedicated and true to herself, which is what Strictly Come Dancing is all about.

Nadiya expresses disappointment

Following her early exit from the show, Nadiya Bychkova expressed her disappointment on Instagram, mentioning that she was not ready to discuss the events of the night. Fans, however, were quick to criticize the judges' decision, labeling it as a "fix" and one of the most shocking eliminations in the show's history.

Public outcry and accusations

Viewers took to social media to voice their outrage, claiming that Toyah's save was unfair and questioning the integrity of the judging process. Many felt that Tom Dean, who was eliminated, deserved to stay over Toyah, sparking debate and controversy among fans of the show.

Final decision and reactions

After the dance-off, the judges were divided in their decision, with Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse choosing to save Toyah, while Anton Du Beke opted to save Tom. Head judge Shirley Ballas had the deciding vote and ultimately chose to keep Toyah in the competition, leading to mixed reactions from fans and contestants.