Dame Sarah Storey was the latest celebrity to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing, but her exit speech on the results show revealed a series 'secret' that had fans talking. The Paralympian and her professional partner Julian Caillon were sent home after landing in the bottom two on Sunday's programme.
Dance-Off Exit
The pair faced Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu in the dance-off on October 18, following their Icons Week Tango to Shania Twain's "That Don't Impress Me Much," which placed them at the bottom of the leaderboard. The judges unanimously chose to save Bethany and Nancy, who performed a Cha Cha to Aretha Franklin's "Respect."
During her exit speech, Sarah told host Emma Willis that she was pleased to have performed the Tango twice in one night. As Julian noted her improvement, she said: "I got to do it twice tonight which was just incredible," to which Julian responded: "You did it amazing the second time as well."
Viewers React to Filming Schedule
It is widely known that the Sunday results show is filmed immediately after the live Saturday broadcast, though it is presented as a separate live event. The hosts and judges wear different outfits to maintain the illusion that the show airs 24 hours after the performances.
Following Sarah's comment, viewers took to X, formerly Twitter, to point out the slip. One user wrote: "'Got to do it twice tonight' (laughing emojis) proof again its all filmed on the Saturday." Another joked: "Na babes, we're pretending it's two different nights." A third posted: "Sarah saying she 'got to do the dance twice tonight' completely destroying the fantasy that the Sunday show is live haha."
Other reactions included: "'I got to do the dance twice tonight' amazed they didn't edit that part out!" and "When are they going to stop pretending that there is a Sunday results show? The results are leaked all over the Internet, they should have a live show on Saturday."
Icons Week Tributes
Sarah's exit came at the end of a show that celebrated Madonna and Dolly Parton as Icons Week concluded. The professional dancers opened the programme with a group number honoring Madonna's decades-spanning career, portraying her various looks from the "La Isla Bonita" era to her "Vogue" phase.
Later, a tribute to Dolly Parton, who died two months ago, featured professional dancers Amy Dowden and Kai Widdrington performing to her hit "Jolene" as singer Belles performed live. Viewers praised the "iconic" choreography online, with one fan writing: "Finally giving the people what they want. Back to professional dancers opening result show," and another adding: "The pro dance first, we dreamed of moments like this."
Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
