Amy Dowden was eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night in week two for the second year running, prompting some fans to threaten to stop watching the BBC series.
The professional dancer, paired with celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, was the first couple to leave the competition. The show has already taken a ratings hit, and the exit could put it at risk of losing more viewers.
Pairing pattern raises questions
It has always felt like an unspoken rule that certain pros get matched with the most promising contestants, but Amy just isn't one of them. Fan favourite Nikita Kuzmin, for example, has been paired in the last three years with Layton Williams, Sam Quek, Amber Davies, and now Dani Dyer, who trained in tap and modern dance at O'Farrell's Dance School.
In comparison, Amy, who took a step back from Strictly in 2023 to receive cancer treatment, appears to have been paired with celebs who have significantly less experience. In 2022, she was matched with EastEnders star James Bye, who joked that he was a notorious dad dancer. She had a strong partnership with JLS star JB Gill in 2024, though she had to withdraw from the competition due to an injury.
Fans demand justice
Last year, Amy danced with The Apprentice star and businessman Thomas Skinner, another complete beginner, and this time around, she was partnered up with Chris Appleton, who had very limited experience apart from a few dance lessons here and there.
Just hours after Amy's exit, some fans on X have threatened to stop watching the season, while others are demanding 'justice' for Amy. "Second year in a row, Amy has been the first to be eliminated. She is a wonderful person and a beautiful dancer. The BBC keeps doing her dirty #strictly," tweeted one. "I feel so sad for Amy. Out first again. She deserves better," agreed a second.
"Amy saying leaving first seems to be her luck the last few years has me sobbing," noted a third. "Amy is going home in week 2 for a second year??? This needs to be corrected next year!!! #Strictly," declared a fourth. "Justice for Amy. She always goes out early," remarked a fifth.
Favouritism problem
The problem isn't whether or not the celebrities can dance; the problem is that the BBC has an unfair history of pairing popular pros with contestants who are already talented dancers in their own right. On the flipside, other pros, who have just as much skill on the dancefloor, are being given a more difficult challenge of taking complete novices and magically transforming them into professional-level dancers.
Neither the contestants nor the pros are to blame. The producers at Strictly seem to have a favouritism problem, and it needs to change. Amy's elimination proves that it remains a huge and recognisable problem. Each and every one of the Strictly pros needs to be treated with respect and given the chance to shine, but if certain dancers are put at an advantage time and time again, that's not a fair and healthy competition; it's outright favouritism.
