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Lewis Cope and Katya Jones Exit Strictly After Dance-Off as Fan Backlash Grows

The exit intensifies debate over voting dynamics, with viewers questioning prior experience versus 'journey' narratives.

Overview

  • Judges unanimously saved Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin after one of the series’ closest dance-offs, with Shirley Ballas and colleagues visibly emotional about the decision.
  • Lewis Cope and Katya Jones had recently topped the leaderboard, won the Instant Dance challenge and earned the first perfect 40 of the series before landing in the bottom two.
  • On It Takes Two, Katya broke down as she said she blamed herself and felt they were expected to deliver almost perfect, show‑stopping routines every week.
  • Cope thanked viewers and praised Jones, saying she made him fall in love with dance and life again, as he reflected on an 11‑week run he called unforgettable.
  • Fans flooded social media with claims of a ‘robbery’ and arguments over prior dance experience, the running‑order ‘death slot’ and narrative control, while Amber and Nikita advance to the semi‑finals with Balvinder Sopal, George Clarke and Karen Carney.