Montell Douglas was ultimately unsuccessful at Sunday night’s dance, as he became the tenth celebrity to be sent packing from Strictly Come Dancing during Musicals Week.
The Gladiators star, 38, and his professional partner Johannes Radebe finished in the bottom two of the public vote for the third week in a row, ahead of Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec.
The first to take to the dance floor, Montell and Johannes performed their Rumba with I’m Here from the musical The Color Purple, followed by Tasha and Aljaž’s Argentine tango with Ex-Wives by Six.
After both couples danced with all their might, it was time for the judges to issue their verdicts with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke choose to save Tasha and Aljaž.
While head judge Shirley Ballas agreed with her fellow judges and said she too would have decided to send Montell and Johannes home.
Despite narrowly missing out on a place in next week’s semi-finals, Montell gushed about his experience on the show and described how his confidence had grown, while Johannes had become his “friend and brother”.
Montell Douglas was ultimately unsuccessful at Sunday night’s dance, as he became the tenth celebrity to be axed from Strictly Come Dancing during Musicals Week.
The Gladiators star, 38, and his professional partner Johannes Radebe finished in the bottom two of the public vote for the third week in a row, ahead of Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec.
The first to take to the dance floor, Montell and Johannes performed their Rumba with I’m Here from the musical The Color Purple, followed by Tasha and Aljaž’s Argentine tango with Ex-Wives by Six.
She said: ‘(Johannes) has been amazing. Strictly has touched me in a way I never thought possible.
“I’m an Olympian and a gladiator, but I’ve honestly struggled with confidence my whole life and being on the show, with the beautiful team, judges and cast has been a huge honor.”
Turning to his partner, Johannes praised: ‘I am very proud of you because you are not a dancer. But the only thing you’ve done every week is get a beautiful dance.
‘So I want to say, thank you for respecting our art form of ballroom dancing and Latin dance. The way you handled it was like a true professional. You’re my winner.’
In response, Montell said emotionally: ‘I have to thank you because I have truly found a friend and a brother in this man.’ I say this from the bottom of my heart, I hope he is in my life forever, because we have something very special.’
Her exit comes after fans criticized Strictly when they accused bosses of “setting Montell up to fail” with the “wrong dance and song”, after she had already landed in the dance competition two weeks ago. followed.
Even before she hit the dance floor, onlookers were convinced the Olympian was doomed after she was tasked with dancing the notoriously difficult Rumba to The Color Purple’s song I’m Here.
The rumba is widely considered to be one of the most challenging ballroom dances, while Montell and Johannes were scheduled to take second place, what several fans have called the “space of death.”
After both couples danced with all their might, the judges gave their verdict and Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke chose to save Tasha and Aljaž.
Despite narrowly missing out on a place in next week’s semi-finals, Montell gushed about his experience on the show and described how his confidence had grown, while Johannes had become his “friend and brother”.
Her exit comes after fans criticized Strictly when they accused bosses of “setting Montell up to fail” with the “wrong dance and song”, after she had already landed in the dance competition two weeks ago. followed.
The pair had only barely survived for the past two weeks, after facing possible eliminations against Wynne Evans and Katya Jones (pictured), and Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas.
The pair had only barely survived for the past two weeks, after facing potential eliminations against Wynne Evans and Katya Jones, and Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas.
While week seven also saw them in the bottom two, where they were fortunately saved from Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin.
Fans criticized producers for giving Montell ‘the kiss of death’ this week, while arguing that their favorite dancer was being intentionally kicked out of the competition.
While they seemed absolutely amazed by the star’s routine, they were convinced that the song was too “slow” compared to the upbeat dance, a point noted by several of the judges, who gave it a score of 32 points out of 40.
Viewers quickly took to
They commented: ‘The BBC are very obvious about who they want out. I mean, this is pretty much a ‘tell me you want Montell out without telling me’ situation.
‘Is it ridiculous to give a rumba in Musicals week to a contestant who has been down three times?; “Worried about Montell having a rumba so late in the series and being in the bottom 2 so many times.”
‘Montell in the slot of death with his rumba… when he catches you producers; Voted for montell; They stitched her up this week; They just went to put Montell in the death row with a rumba…’
The rumba is widely considered to be one of the most challenging ballroom dances, while Montell and Johannes were scheduled to take second place, what several fans have called the “space of death.”
Following Montell’s departure, only five celebrities remain in the competition, with just a week left until the final four are revealed.
‘I fear that Montell has received the kiss of death; I see you Strictly producers, I see you. Montell deserves better! I would have loved to see a Team Jojo Charleston this week!
‘They stitched up Shayne and now they’re stitching up Montell. The difference, however, is that Montell is too good to leave so soon. I should be a finalist! I’m furious!’
“Producers put Montell in the death place with a rumba so they can drag their precious Chris and Pete to the final… I feel bad #Strictly.”
Sunday’s results show featured a phenomenal performance by The Schuyler Sisters from the acclaimed musical Hamilton and a dazzling group number by professional dancers from Sunset Boulevard’s As If We Never Said Goodbye.
Following Montell’s departure, only five celebrities remain in the competition, with just a week left until the final four are revealed.
The final five couples will take to the dance floor next week for the semi-final, where they will each perform two dances.
Strictly Come Dancing returns live on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 7 December at 6.30pm. The results show will air on Sunday 8 December at 7.20pm on BBC One and iPlayer.