Strictly Come Dancing fans were left up in arms (Image: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing fans have been left up in arms after discovering the results from Week 5 of the ballroom show. The outcome of Icons week was filmed immediately after the Saturday night show (October 25). While the BBC doesn’t release the name of the person who has been eliminated from the show, spoilers have been leaked online weekly since 2012.
Now, it’s been revealed which couple failed to impress the judges in the fifth week, though Express.co.uk has decided not to reveal the names of the duo who have gone. But we can say that viewers were left enraged by the results of the late-night show, where two celebrities were forced to dance off for their spot on the series.
One user argued, “Gutted! That’s not a fair dance off.” Another agreed, “All I’ll say about this is that the result is a complete joke—the wrong two people were in the dance off, and the wrong person went out.”
A third echoed: “Absolutely ridiculous. People assumed they were safe. Gone way too soon. Icons week has to go,” as a fourth chimed in with: “Ffs [angry emoji] that’s a shocker. How the hell either of them was in the bottom two is beyond me.”
Meanwhile, a fifth added: “The program is a popularity poll and nothing more now… Nothing to do with talent… no wonder the presenters are moving.” This is the first elimination since hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced that they will be leaving the BBC reality show at the end of this series after 21 years on the show.
The duo took to Instagram on Thursday (October 23), sharing the devastating news in a short video, explaining that it was the right time to pass on the “sparkly baton.” The veteran hosts will certainly be going out with a bang, as they revealed their plans for one last waltz around the infamous danceflood.
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly have announced this is their last year on the BBC show (Image: BBC)
In their exit video, Daly teased: “We can’t wait to do the show dance that we have dreamt of”, while Winkleman joked that she would just “watch from the sides”.
Their final show will be during the Christmas Day special, which will air on Christmas Day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Fans will have to stay tuned to see who will take over the prestigious hosting gigs in 2026.
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly returned to Strictly (Image: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing made its eagerly awaited return to the BBC with Icons Week. However, after hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were introduced, the pair interrupted the competition’s regular programming to issue an emotional statement.
Claudia kicked off the episode with: “Tonight our couples will pay tribute to some of the greatest music legends of all time.” But before welcoming the judges, Tess shared: “Just before we get started, Claudia and I announced this week that this will be our last series of Strictly Come Dancing.” As the studio audience groaned, her co-host continued: “We want to thank you for your beautiful messages.”
Claudia reassured fans: “We’ve got another eight weeks on this incredible show and a Strictly champion to crown.” To which Tess added: “We cannot wait to spend the rest of the series with you, with our amazing couples and, of course, with these four – please welcome the judges.”
On Thursday, the hosts confirmed they will no longer be hosts in a shock announcement on social media.
In their unexpected joint post, Tess and Claudia shared: “We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time.
“We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show.
“They’re the most brilliant team and we’ll miss them every day. We will cry when we say the last ‘keep dancing’ but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.”
Claudia and Tess have presented together since 2010 (Image: BBC)
While fans were astounded by the news, the real reason behind their departure has been exposed as sources claim the duo wanted to leave “go out at the top” amid ongoing scandals surrounding the show.
A TV source told the Mirror: “The feeling is Tess and Claudia wanted to go out at the top and whilst the show is still huge and shortly after they received MBEs. Announcing it mid series also gives them a bit of a swansong and doesn’t take the spotlight away from the winner.
“Claudia is right at her career peak with The Traitors and other TV offers flooding in. Tess has been hosting the show for more than two decades and like that idea of more weekends with her family and her friends.
“The recent scandals around the show have also impacted the ratings a little bit and there might be more around the corner, so they weighed it up and feel it is the right time to quit.”
