‘It’s a TV show!’ Strictly’s Dan Walker hits back at ‘fix’ claims as he makes it through to the semi-finals after Tilly Ramsay was eliminated
- The social media star, 19, was sent packing on Sunday episode after she and Nikita Kuzmin landed in the bottom two with Rhys Stephenson and Nancy Xu
- While Tilly has turned out consistently strong performances week after week, Dan, 44, has had patchier results from the judging panel
- The BBC presenter did not take the criticism lying down and encouraged his detractors to lighten up
- He wrote: ‘To the few who say… “Just leave” “Aren’t you ashamed?” “You’re a disgrace” “It’s a fix” (which I don’t get) IT’S A TV SHOW!’
Strictly Come Dancing fans have claimed the show is a ‘fix’ after Dan Walker made it through to next week’s show and Tilly Ramsay was eliminated, with the BBC presenter firing back online.
The social media star, 19, was sent packing on Sunday night’s episode after she and Nikita Kuzmin landed in the bottom two with Rhys Stephenson and Nancy Xu.
While Tilly has turned out consistently strong performances week after week, Dan, 44, has had less consistent results from the judging panel.
However, Dan did not take the criticism lying down and encouraged his detractors to lighten up, reminding them it’s only a TV show.
Claims: Strictly Come Dancing fans have claimed the show is a ‘fix’ after Dan Walker made it through to next week’s show and Tilly Ramsay was eliminated (pictured with Nadiya Bychkova)
Taking to Twitter, one user wrote: ‘Fix. What a joke,’ while another said: ‘Catching up on Strictly results and Dan still in seriously’.
Another added: ‘People saying they are voting for their favourite by keeping Dan in. It’s a dance competition to vote for your favourite dancer. It’s not called “Who is your favourite celebrity”‘.
One viewer wrote: ‘What a fix,’ while another said: ‘It’s made a farce out of the ‘competition’ now Tilly & Nikita have gone!’
Hard luck: The social media star, 19, was sent packing on Sunday night’s episode after she and Nikita Kuzmin landed in the bottom two with Rhys Stephenson and Nancy Xu
Speaking out: Dan did not take the criticism lying down and encouraged his detractors to lighten up, reminding them it’s only a TV show
Taking to Twitter, Dan wrote: ‘Thank you to everyone who is sending lovely messages & enjoying us having fun on #Strictly.
‘And to the few who say… “Just leave” “Aren’t you ashamed?” “You’re a disgrace” “It’s a fix” (which I don’t get) or “Who is voting for them?” IT’S A TV SHOW! See you in the 1/4 finals’.
Other users also came to Dan’s defence, with one writing: ‘Why are people giving poor Dan hate? Not his fault everyone’s voting for him every week’.
Another said: ‘Dan Walker’s one of the nicest people on the telly. Friendly, caring, not a dancer but he’s improving slowly.
‘Not who I’d like to see lifting the glitter ball but there’s absolutely no justification to abuse him online. Some people like to see “journeys”. Get over it!’
Competition: While Tilly has turned out consistently strong performances week after week, Dan, 44, has had less consistent results from the judging panel
Meanwhile, Dan has been repeatedly plugging his appearance on the show in a publicity onslaught apparently aimed at staying in the line-up.
After being spared elimination once again last weekend, the Breakfast presenter mentioned his involvement to the three million viewers of the morning programme on both Monday and Tuesday.
On Thursday, he was given a 13-minute slot on The One Show with dance partner Nadiya Bychkova.
Reaction: Taking to Twitter, one user wrote: ‘Fix. What a joke,’ while another said: ‘Catching up on Strictly results and Dan still in seriously’
Rounding off his blitz of self-promotion on Friday, Dan turned up on Strictly spin-off It Takes Two – meaning he had four days of exposure to millions of viewers that his fellow contestants missed out on.
It comes amid accusations that there is favouritism towards the presenter, a long-serving BBC star.
The 44-year-old last week escaped the dance-off, even though his score of 31 put him at the bottom of their leader board.
It comes after judge Craig Revel Horwood admitted that he was fond of Dan.
Support: Other users also came to Dan’s defence, with one writing: ‘Why are people giving poor Dan hate? Not his fault everyone’s voting for him every week’
He told Weekend magazine: ‘I rather fell in love with Dan and I didn’t expect to. Looking at his dancing, I had no clue why people were voting for him before.
‘But suddenly I thought, “Oh, I see why – he’s really sweet.” I learned a lot about why people vote for who they do.’
Tilly and Nikita landed in the bottom two after they scored 30 for their Samba to Levitating by Dua Lipa and placed bottom of the leaderboard.
When asked by Tess about their time on the show, Tilly said: ‘I’d just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has made this an amazing, positive journey for me. From everyone here to backstage, wardrobe, make up and camera crew.
Dream is over: Tilly beaome the ninth celebrity eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday – leaving her famous father welling up
‘It’s just been the most extraordinary time. I found out something about myself that I didn’t know I could do, I didn’t know I could dance and have fun like this.
‘So a massive thank you and, obviously, a huge thank you to Nikita who has guided me out of my shell and has just made this the most amazing experience.’
When asked for her message to Nikita, Tilly said: ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you. It’s just been amazing. I really meant it when I said I made a best friend for life. You’ve just been incredible. Thank you for the best couple of weeks.’
Emotional: The couple scored 30 for their Samba to Levitating by Dua Lipa and landing bottom of the leaderboard
Nikita was then asked if he had any words for Tilly and said: ‘I’m the most emotional person so I hope I don’t cry.
‘I’m just grateful for everything, for the whole Strictly team, for the production team, for the costume, for the make-up, for everything.
‘Thank you guys, thank you to the professionals and cast, and a huge, huge thank you to Tilly.’
The remaining couples will take to the dancefloor in the Strictly Come Dancing quarter finals on Saturday December 4 at 6:40pm, with the results show on Sunday 5th December at 7:20pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Goodbye: Nikita was then asked if he had any words for Tilly and said: ‘I’m the most emotional person so I hope I don’t cry’
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