Strictly Fans Outraged as Shirley Ballas Criticized for Jamie Borthwick’s Shocking Exit
Strictly Come Dancing fans have taken to social media to criticize judge Shirley Ballas, accusing her of having an “issue” with EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, who was eliminated from the show this weekend.
Jamie, who won last year’s Christmas special, entered the series as a favorite. Despite his early success, including topping the leaderboard earlier in the competition, his journey ended abruptly on Sunday after he and his professional partner, Michelle Tsiakkas, lost the dance-off to Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe.
On Saturday, Jamie and Michelle performed a Foxtrot to Stand By Me, aiming to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. However, Shirley’s critique raised eyebrows. She described the routine as “monotone,” adding, “I’d like you to work on that… if you get any more ballroom dances,” which fans interpreted as a suggestion that his time on the show was coming to an end, reported by Chronicle Live.
Scoring Jamie lower than both Pete Wicks and Chris McCausland, Shirley, and the other judges opted to save Montell and Johannes in the dance-off. Following the decision, viewers flooded social media, accusing Shirley of bias.
One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “The judges need replacing. They are so biased. It’s unreal. Jamie has been persecuted by Shirley.” Another viewer agreed, saying, “They (well, mostly Shirley) wanted him out for some reason. Not sure an elimination has felt so sour before.”
A third fan fumed, “Gutted for Jamie. Judges have been so harsh to him from the start and undermarked (especially Shirley). At least she has her favorites Chris and Pete in for another week.”
Jamie’s elimination sparked disappointment among his supporters, who argued that his performances deserved higher scores and more recognition. Some even questioned the fairness of the judging, suggesting favoritism had influenced the results.
While Shirley has not responded to the criticism, this isn’t the first time fans have voiced concerns about perceived biases on Strictly. For now, Jamie’s departure marks the end of a journey that many felt was cut short too soon, leaving fans debating whether the judging panel needs a shake-up.
As the quarter-finals approach, the controversy surrounding Shirley’s remarks continues to overshadow the competition. Fans will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how the drama unfolds in the coming weeks.