Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas said "there was no comparison" between the two couples in the first dance-off of the series, as Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden became the first pair eliminated from the competition.
The four BBC judges unanimously decided to save actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu, sending celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and professional dancer Amy Dowden home on Sunday evening (October 4).
Dance-off details
Jaime earned 21 points for her Cha Cha alongside Carlos, while Chris scored 17 points for his Cha Cha partnered with Amy. Despite neither couple being at the bottom of the leaderboard, the public vote placed them in the first dance-off of the series.
After both couples returned to the floor for a final performance, the panel reached a unanimous verdict to save Jaime and Carlos.
Judges' reasoning
Following the elimination, Abi Clarke, host of Strictly: Lights Up, asked the judges about their decision. Anton Du Beke said: "It was really. I didn't think there was much in it, I have to be honest with you. I thought that Jaime and Carlos were really strong. Everything that they didn't do on Saturday night, they did in the dance off."
Shirley Ballas added: "I didn't think that Jaime and Carlos should have been in the bottom two to start with, so that was a shock and a surprise." She delivered a scathing four-word verdict, stating "there was no comparison" between the two pairs.
Reaction to exit
When it was revealed that Amy and Chris were departing, Amy shared touching words: "Obviously, I'm heartbroken, this seems to have been my luck the past few years, but you know what, my heart is only breaking because I don't get to dance with you (Chris) on Monday, but I've got a friend for life, and that's what's going to heal my broken heart."
Chris said: "I'm 43 and I got good at doing what I did, which was hair, and to come into something like that, I felt so out of my comfort zone." He added: "I saw myself in a way I'd never seen myself and it challenged me in ways I never knew I could be challenged."
Strictly Come Dancing is available to watch Saturday on BBC One from 6:15pm.
