Strictly Come Dancing fans were floored after Lewis Cope and Katya Jones were voted off the show last weekend. Judge Shirley Ballas has now broken her silence.

Shirley Ballas made her feelings clear (stock image) (Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA)

Last weekend’s Strictly Come Dancing left viewers absolutely floored as an unexpected celebrity was eliminated from the competition. Lewis Cope and Katya Jones departed the ballroom after losing a tense dance-off against Nikita Kuzmin and Amber Davies.

BBC audiences were left utterly bewildered as two of the programme’s strongest partnerships found themselves facing elimination following the public vote. Both the judging panel and spectators were equally astonished to witness these couples battling it out in the dance-off, and now judge Shirley Ballas has revealed her thoughts on the shocking result.

In the aftermath of the Strictly Come Dancing elimination, Katya shared an emotional message on social media this week, expressing her devastation. She has candidly discussed how heartbroken she is.

On Instagram, Katya penned: “I must say congratulations to all semi-finalists, and to @nikita__kuzmin and @amb_d, who fully deserved their place in the semi-final. There was absolutely no doubt about it. Keep going guys!

“My heart is broken, and it will take some time to heal. So, before I write a big profound post, I will take a minute to digest and breathe.”

Beneath her message, judge Shirley responded with just three crying face emojis. The tearful symbols revealed her raw emotions regarding the pair’s shocking departure from the show.

Lewis responded by calling Katya his “hero”, whilst a flood of supportive messages poured in from devastated viewers. Fans expressed their complete shock at the outcome, with one declaring: “The most unjust elimination I’ve seen and I’ve watched since series one. You are a wonderful choreographer Katya, and Lewis is a star. I’ll miss seeing what would have been a spectacular show dance.”

Another supporter wrote: “Was wonderful to see you with a partner who showcased your immense talents as a choreographer. You should both be so proud of yourselves.”

A third fan replied: “I am absolutely devastated for you both. I don’t think I’ve been so upset about anyone leaving Strictly before. You were my winners and always will be.”

A fourth viewer also commented: “It’s very clear how genuinely heartbroken you are, and it’s hard to see because you both deserved so much more. Gave everything every week! Beyond the incredible routines, the love and respect you have for one another is very special. Be proud, our winners always.”

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Lewis and Katya were devastated to leave (Image: PA)

What happened?

Sunday evening’s results programme saw visibly emotional judges, with Shirley spotted dabbing away tears whilst delivering the crushing blow to the duo. Katya and Lewis found themselves facing elimination after Musicals Week left them vulnerable.

Saturday’s performance earned them thunderous applause from the studio audience, yet the panel’s marks positioned them disappointingly in the middle rankings. Conversely, Amber and Nikita achieved a flawless score of 40 points, yet remarkably still ended up battling for survival in the dance-off.

The judges ultimately rescued them, which resulted in Lewis’s departure from the competition. Both the former Emmerdale actor and Amber possess previous dance training, with Lewis having performed in Billy Elliot during his childhood and Amber establishing herself as a West End performer.

One possible explanation for why both pairs ended up in the bottom two centres on audiences preferring to witness celebrities embarking on a “journey” rather than those who already possess dance expertise. This appears to have been the case for underdog EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, who successfully progressed all the way to the semi-finals.