Sam Quek was given the boot from Strictly Come Dancing this Sunday, with viewers fuming at ‘unfair scores’.
Strictly Come Dancing’s first ever Icons Week saw judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse deliver their verdicts this Saturday. After her American Smooth performance, Sam Quek and Nikita received applause from the judges who commended Sam for her bounce back after a slight hiccup the previous week.
Consequently, the duo were awarded a total of 29 out of a possible 40. However, this surprisingly placed Sam at the bottom of the leaderboard alongside Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe.
In a similar vein to Sam, Gladiators star Montell wowed the audience with a Waltz to Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You, earning her a score of 35. But it was the public vote that determined her place in the dance-off, reports the Mirror.
The dreaded dance-off on Sunday, November 3, saw Montell and Sam take turns, with the judges unanimously voting to save Montell and Johannes. The results left fans seething, as they felt Sam had been underscored by the judges initially.
Many took to Twitter, also known as X, to express their disappointment. One wrote: “Pete should have gone home this week, he was atrocious. Yes I’ve read the spoiler and I’m really cross. The other pair should NEVER have been anywhere near the dance off.”
“This bottom two when Wynne and Pete are right there?” a second added, with a third writing: “If we don’t see Wynne or Pete in the dance off next week i am gunna kick off.” A fourth penned: “I need Pete to be the dance off next week. We’re losing decent dancers and he’s just not there.” A fifth said: “#strictly pete shayne and wynne were the weakest!”
Other fans fumed over the dance-off. One shared: “Sam and Montell should never have been in the dance-off. There’s some mediocre men that should have been there. Very unfair as they were both what strictly is about. Loved watching them both progress.”
Speaking on her exit from the show, Sam shared: “I’m gutted, I just want to say thank you. I’ve learned so much. Strictly has just brought that spring in my step back. It’s just been an absolute joy.
“Nikita, you’ve been key in helping me find that inner Sam that was there, who went a little bit quiet for maybe one or two years and has just come back. I’m gutted because I do feel like I still have more to give.”
To which her dance partner Nikita added: “I’m just in awe of this girl. Sometimes they say it’s about the journey, not the destination, but to me it’s about the company. Sam you are the most wonderful company I could have had.”