BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans call for change to rules after 'saddest elimination of the series'

Strictly Come Dancing viewers have called for a change in the rules after a shock elimination. Jamie Borthwick was sent packing from the competition in week 10.

The exit means the EastEnders star, who won last year's Strictly Christmas special, has just missed out on the quarter finals of the hit BBC dance show. The soap actor and his partner Michelle Tsiakkas had been thrown into the dance-off alongside Gladiator Montell Douglas and her partner Johannes Radebe following last night's dances.

Jamie was dignified after he was placed in the bottom two, saying: "In a really funny way I'm kind of a bit pleased I'm exeriencing it. It's the whole experience. I've had the high at the top of the leaderboard, low at the bottom of the leaderboard, experienced the dance off...and I get to dance it again, so it's all good."

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The judges unanimously chose to save Montell, giving her a pass to the quarter finals. After it was announced he was leaving, Jamie said: "Strictly is magic and that's all I can say. Not just everyone you see in front of the camera...everyone who works on the show I have such a good bond with.

"I've had the best time. She's a new pro, she's been the absolute best teacher and we've laughed like you wouldn't believe."

Michelle gushed about Jamie's efforts on the show, saying: "Jamie is an amazing dancer. He's improved so much week by week. He's worked so hard to get to where he is. It's my first year with a partner and I've realised it's so much more than just the dancing and the technique it's the bond and friendships that you make."

Struggling to keep her composure as she fought back tears, Michelle added: "I waited two years for a partner and I wouldn't have had it any other way." Viewers were shocked by the star's elimination and took to X to comment. One said: "This was the saddest elimination of the season."

"Jamie was quite literally final material... HOW he was out before PETE is beyond me #Strictly," another wrote. A third added: "What an absolute farce! Jamie out of Strictly! I have voted for him every week. How did they vote him out over her."

A fourth said: "I am so gutted for Jamie and Michelle he was definitely worthy of a place in the final. Such a shame."

Another called for a change to the rules, adding: "They should scrap the public vote altogether and do it off the basis of the bottom two on the leaderboard #Strictly."

The comeptition is really heating up now, with just six couples left in the running to lift the Glitterball trophy.

Strictly Come Dancing continues next weekend on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.