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Katya was weeping on TV after she and Lewis lost their place in the competition(Image: PA)
Katya Jones has spoken out after her and Lewis Cope’s controversial exit from Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday. The pair caused uproar when they went out of the competition in Musicals Week after judges Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood were not impressed by their salsa to a track from Guys and Dolls.
But many viewers threatened to boycott the show as a result, with scores of fans declaring that the former Emmerdale actor was “my winner” and insisting they wouldn’t watch the rest of the series.
On Sunday night, Katya – who hasn’t won since 2017 when she lifted the glitterball with actor Joe McFadden – wept as they lost the dance off to Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin. Amber, 29, was also shocked to find herself in the dance-off having got a perfect 40 from the judges for her Charleston.
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Lewis and Katya scored the first 40 of this year’s Strictly during Halloween Week last month(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Guy Levy)
On Sunday’s show, Katya told Lewis tearfully: “I think you have created so many moments for Strictly Come Dancing that will be in the history books and you will be remembered as one of, if not, the best male celebrity we’ve ever had on the show, but also you will be remembered for being an incredible person you are. Kind and genuine people still exist – what a gentleman you are, so humble. I’m so glad that we had a chance to showcase your talent and what a beautiful person you are to the world.”
Today, Katya has finally broken her silence online where she admitted her heart was broken.
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“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!” she wrote.
“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.”
Their exit came after they previously scored the first full marks of the series with their Couple’s Choice routine to Radiohead’s Creep during the Halloween special, which got four 10s from the judges. They also got 40 for their Charleston and Katya is now the only pro to have scored two perfect scores with her celebrity but not make the semi final.
The result, in Musicals Week, was a foregone conclusion because Amber and Nikita had already scored a perfect 40 on Saturday for their Charleston to a song from Guys and Dolls, while Lewis’s salsa to Dance at the Gym from West Side Story was criticised for having several flaws, particularly by Craig and head judge Shirley.
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Amber and Nikita drew a perfect score for their Charleston, but still found themselves in the dance off(Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA)
Amber, 29, now waltzes into next week’s semi-final alongside George Clarke, 26, who is the last male celebrity left standing, plus Balvinder Sopal, 47, and Karen Carney, 38.
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After the result she revealed her own anguish about being in the dance off with her “best friend” Lewis, saying it was “simply terrifying” but also “broke my heart”,
She added: “Lewis and Katya you won this competition as soon as you showed us and the world your Couple’s Choice – it was pure perfection, just like your partnership. Thank you for being mine and Nikita’s champions from day one, that means more to us than anything else. You’re both simply the greatest of all time and I love you both immensely.”
When asked by host Tess Daly about his time on the show, Lewis said: “It’s been more than I could have ever wished for. If someone would have said that I’d have done 11 weeks at the beginning, I’d have been over the moon and snapped their hand off.”
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Speaking to Katya he added: “It’s been incredible and a memory that I’ll have for the rest of my life, and I think it’s all down to you. You’ve literally given me absolutely everything I could wish for as a friend, as a teacher. I couldn’t imagine it with anybody else so thank you very much.”
Quizzed on the support he’s received and the impact he’s hoping for, Lewis said: “It’s everything, isn’t it? I mean, what is life without people? And this show, I’ve seen how it’s brought people together, not just in my family, but it seems to lift people up. And it’s definitely brought my family, four generations, together every Saturday night – my Nana Dot sitting there smiling all the time. You know, young boys who thought that dancing wasn’t accessible for them or whatever. They’ve started dancing now and have sent us videos. You know, if you can change one person’s life like that, then that’s enough.”
