Actress Melanie Walters has become the second celebrity eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing after losing the dance-off on Sunday, October 11. The Gavin and Stacey star and her professional partner Aljaž Škorjanec faced footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and his partner Alexis after receiving the fewest public votes.
Dance-off battle
Both couples returned to the floor, with Shaun and Alexis performing a Quickstep to I'm a Believer by The Monkees. Melanie and Aljaž then danced a Charleston to Ooh Ahh... Just A Little Bit by Gina G. Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Shaun and Alexis, while Motsi Mabuse voted to keep Melanie and Aljaž. Head judge Shirley Ballas and Anton du Beke, who held the casting vote, both opted to rescue Shaun and Alexis.
Emotional farewell
After the result, Melanie said: "To tell you the truth, no word of a lie, I thought I was going to be out last week, so I've had an extra week with this beautiful soul." Aljaž added: "It's difficult to put into words, and if I was ever going to say something really profound and beautiful, it wasn't going to be looking like this. Look, you're an ultimate professional in what you do; that's why you're so successful at what you do."
He continued: "You showed me what hard work really is and what hard work really means. Look, we started every day with, 'Partner, let's have the best day ever'. So I want to finish this for us with a huge and thank you for every single bit in rehearsals and every single step on that floor. Thank you, very much."
Fans reacted online, with one person on X saying: "Devastated at who has gone, I really thought they had potential." Another wrote: "Melanie over Shaun is laughable."
Next steps
Melanie and Aljaž are set to appear on Monday's edition of Strictly - It Takes Two on BBC Two (October 12). The remaining 13 couples will return on Saturday, October 17, for Icons Week, where they will transform into recognisable celebrity figures. Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturdays on BBC One from 6:15pm.
