There were tears in the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom after James Bye became the fifth celebrity to be voted off the BBC One dance competition. The EastEnders actor and his professional partner Amy Dowden bowed out of the BBC One dance contest following Saturday night's Halloween special.
James who has played Martin Fowler in the BBC One soap since 2014, found himself in the dreaded dance-off against singer and broadcaster Fleur East, who celebrated her birthday on Saturday, the same day the Sunday results show was recorded. The soap star ended up under the dreaded red light after his Charleston to Bumble Bee by LaVern Baker.
The 38-year-old was dressed as a beekeeper while Welsh dancer Amy performed while dressed as a bee. And despite pulling of a lift he had not been able to nail during dress run, James placed bottom of the scoreboard and had to re-perform the routine in the dance-off.
Meanwhile, Fleur and her professional partner Vito Coppola re-performed their salsa routine to Beyonce’s Break My Soul with judge Motsi Mabuse praising her power as a woman on the dancefloor. After both couples had danced for the second time, it was a unanimous decision by the judges to save Fleur and send James home.
Craig Revel Horwood said it was his “responsibility” as a judge to “save the better dancer”, meanwhile Motsi said there were “different levels of dancing on the dance floor." Anton added: "I thought both couples danced better on Saturday night. They didn’t reproduce their best performance, but it doesn’t have to be the best performance, it has to be better and I thought their performance was just good enough."
Reflecting on his time on the show, James said: "I’ve said this from the very beginning, all I can do is go out there and do my very best. I am dancing against Fleur East, I went and did my best but she is phenomenal. I’ve had the best time on this show and I have a friend for life (in Amy) all I can do is thank the family, and I have a new family now."
His exit comes after Strictly fans feared he was in 'danger' following his routine on Saturday night. Flocking to social media, @lisamarks said: "James’s bee costume nonsense is the same as Richie’s Lion King nonsense. He’s probably going home. #Strictly." @jlb26_ tweeted: "Why is amy a bumblebee like could they not think of ANYTHING halloween inspired to give them as a theme. They’ve been completely screwed over with this #strictly."@ChristineCarr added: "Terrible song and not Halloween theme but great lifts. Think that will put James in danger tonight… #Strictly."
But following the judges' decision on Sunday night, Strictly fans were again quick to comment on social media as to why James and Amy should have stayed over Fleur and Vito. @tonibarber1 said: "Sorry fleur should of went she slipped and could see clearly she went wrong sad to see James go."
@paula.squire.37 fumed: "Disgraceful. Fleur noticeably fell and then she walked the last couple of steps. James should not have been sent home. It was obvious before the dance off that James was going to be sent home." @porridgeface wrote: "Wrong decision, Fleur messed up." @nanny_nsl63 added: "You were robbed @jimmybye and @amy_dowden! Fleur had 2 big visible mistakes! I thought it’s supposed to be the better dancer with the least mistakes on Sunday night?!"
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