Strictly Come Dancing 2016: Tameka Empson kicked off after 'shock' Laura Whitmore dance-off

Angry viewers branded the decision a "travesty"
Emma Powell10 October 2016

Tameka Empson was booted off of Strictly Come Dancing after going head-to-head with Laura Whitmore in a shock dance-off.

Empson and Whitmore found themselves in the bottom two on Sunday night’s eviction show in a move that was deemed a “nightmare” by Craig Revel Horwood.

Whitmore was first to dance and performed the salsa to Rhythm of the Night with Giovanni Pernice before Empson danced the tango to The Heat is On with Gorka Marquez.

Darcey Bussell chose to save Empson but Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and head judge Len Goodman opted to send Whitmore through to next week.

Speaking about her time on the show the EastEnders actress said: “It has been brief. I’ve enjoyed my time immensely. You guys watch it at home but it’s really lovely to be a part of it. Thank you.”

She continued: “Gorka is such a lovely person. He is a great asset to the show. You have showed me so much passion and motivation. I love you. You are a great dancer.”

Marquez said: “Thank you for being such a good partner and teaching me so many new things in this new world for me.”

Viewers were left gobsmacked by the bottom two and questioned how Ed Balls and Judge Rinder had avoided the dance-off.

Others were annoyed that Anastcia was saved a week after Melvin Odoom was booted out on the public vote because an injury prevented her from taking part in a dance-off.

Last week's decision to revert to the public vote caused outcry among viewers who called for Anastacia to forfeit the competition.

BBC bosses allegedly faced pressure to publish the show's rule book after the episode.

Odoom said he had been left saddened by the decision and wanted the opportunity to show what he's got in a dance-off.

His partner Janette Manrara dismissed the controversy and told It Takes Two host Zoe Ball that it was "no one’s fault".

Tied at the top of the leaderboard this weekend were Danny Mac and Claudia Fragapane, who both scored four nines and earned themselves the highest scores of the series so far.

Michael Ball and Alfie Boe provided the musical entertainment with a performance of Somewhere from West Side Story.

Strictly Come Dancing 2016

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Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One at 6:30pm on Saturday.

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