Bethany Antonia has spoken out after she and professional partner Nancy Xu became the sixth couple to be eliminated from the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The Game of Thrones actress, whose T-shirt supporting trans rights was previously edited out by Strictly bosses, found herself in the dance off for a third time on Sunday night. Antonia and Xu faced Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby in a showdown and reprised their foxtrot to Leona Lewis' hit Bleeding Love, while Mercer and Ingoldsby returned to the floor with their waltz to That Ain't You by Mulaa Joans.
Judges Split Over Dance Off
Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas opted to save Mercer and Ingoldsby, while Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse backed Antonia and Xu. Since Ballas is head judge and gets the deciding vote, Antonia and Xu were sent home, to the disappointment of fans at home.
Antonia later said she "had a feeling" she'd be going as she reflected on her emotional exit on the spin-off programme Strictly: Lights Up, hosted by Abi Clarke and Tyler West.
"I just feel so lucky that that was the one we went out on," she said. "I had a feeling, it has been a very spiritual day, I had a feeling that today was a change of a chapter."
Antonia Reflects on Her Time
Discussing her repeated appearances in the dance off, the actress explained: "It was really emotional, the first one was so anxious, so sad, so nervous. The second one was joy. And this was like I've come and done the thing I wanted to."
Asked if her Strictly experience had lived up to what she wanted from the competition, Antonia said: "Oh it absolutely did. It exceeded my expectations of what it would feel like and the highlight of getting to do it with Nancy. I can't put it into words."
Xu said: "People will always remember Bethany Antonia."
In a message to viewers at home, Antonia added: "If anyone is watching this, this is a lesson to vote for people you want to save because the leader board is so hard to predict."
Fans React to Elimination
Viewers at home were frustrated over Antonia's departure and her multiple appearances in the dance off, with one writing on X: "The way that the British public treated Bethany so terribly that she knew she was going home."
Another added: "I'd like [the judges] to stop pretending they are voting on technical ability or whatever instead of just voting for their favourites like the rest of us. Nobody can gaslight me that Cach danced better than Bethany either time this week."
"Cach and Maddie should've been the couple eliminated. Bethany definitely danced better. The judging is unfair and biased," a third agreed.
BBC Defends T-Shirt Edit
Antonia's exit comes after the BBC defended its decision to remove a trans rights slogan on a T-shirt she wore during a Strictly rehearsal.
House Of The Dragon star Antonia, who came out as gay in 2024, wore a top with the words "Protect the Dolls" on it in an Instagram video of her training. Protect The Dolls is a message expressing support for transgender women, who are commonly known as "dolls" within the LGBTQ+ community.
The motif was censored out during the episode, instead showing Antonia in a plain white T-shirt as she practiced her American Smooth.
A BBC spokesperson stated: "As is standard practice on any entertainment show on the BBC and in line with our editorial guidelines, appropriate steps are taken to reduce the inclusion of any overt branding or slogans that may be present, regardless of the wording or statement in question."
Viewers blasted the "shameful" decision to censor the slogan, with one writing: "Abhorrent that the BBC deleted pictures of Bethany Antonia wearing a T-shirt with those words printed on it!"
"The BBC is captured by 'gender critical' transphobes and is desperate to erase any sort of support for trans people! #Censorship," another added. "The decision to digitally scrub the 'Protect the Dolls' slogan from Bethany Antonia's T-shirt during Strictly Come Dancing is a shameful and cowardly act of censorship," a third posted.
A T-shirt bearing the slogan, created by designer Conner Ives, has also been worn by high-profile stars such as Pedro Pascal, Tilda Swinton and singer Troye Sivan.
