Dan Walker has hit back after Strictly fans reacted angrily to the latest result on the BBC dance contest.
Viewers took to Twitter to question how Dan is still in the running after Tilly Ramsay became the ninth contestant to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing after she faced Rhys Stephenson in the dreaded dance-off.
CBBC star Tilly and her dance partner Nikita Kuzmin were the bottom of the leaderboard this weekend with 30 points out of a possible 40 with Dan and Nadiya Bychkova just above them on the table with 31 points.
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CBBC presenter Rhys and his partner Nancy Xu were midway with 35 points.
Many Strictly fans voiced their amazement at seeing BBC Breakfast presenter Dan voted through to the quarter finals.
@JonMDexter asked: "Who is voting for him??!!!"
@OliviaG37717638 asked: "Omg why?"
@lucyax04 fumed: "This show is now officially the biggest fix, how did Dan get through?????"
And @leannemoat said: "He needs to go now his fans are keeping him in when better dancers are getting voted off."
After the shock result Dan tweeted: "Thank you to everyone who is sending lovely messages & enjoying us having fun on #Strictly and to the few who say…'just leave', 'aren’t you ashamed?', 'you’re a disgrace', 'It’s a fix' (which I don’t get) or 'who is voting for them?' IT’S A TV SHOW!"
And he added with a crying with laughter emoji: "See you in the 1/4 finals."
Some fans are now convinced that he's on track to win.
@Liverpoolshell tweeted: "He's going to win isnt he #Strictly"
@PeterL_77 remarked: "Increasingly sure Dan is going to win. Nice chap but would be an undeserving winner given the talent of the remaining competitors."
And @dailymelus tweeted: "Dan Walker. All I’m saying is - he could win it! A massive fan base that votes him in every single week. BBC Breakfast fans = Votes for Dan.
"Don’t be surprised! Despite his dancing calibre - IT COULD HAPPEN! #StrictlyComeDancing."
Other fans have a different view.
@_MsShiny_1997 said: "Do I think Dan is the best dancer? No. Do I find it HILARIOUS that people are so without a life as to actually troll him? No, I find it pathetic and now I want him to get to the semi-finals just to annoy you."
@samemily1969 said: "Well done @mrdanwalker so so pleased for you and @NadiyaBychkova quarter finals here you come!!"
And @SWnowISVA cheered: "YES DAN!!!"
The result is decided by the scores from the judges in the live show and the public vote which are combined 50/50.
Dan, who performed the rumba to Desperado by Eagles with Nadiya during Saturday night's live show, responded earlier today (Sunday November 28) over 'unkind' messages from trolls.
"What a night! It was amazing to do a rumba with @nadiyabychkova … she just loves the dance so much," he said on his Instagram.
"It was an emotional day so thanks for the lovely comments and all the support."
He added: "We get so many positive, kind, encouraging messages but also… some very strange unkind stuff.
"It doesn’t bother me but I can’t fathom how anyone can get that angry about a gameshow!
"We’re having an incredible time & it’s a privilege to be a small part of a show that means so much to so many.
"Have an amazing Sunday."
Dan also answered to criticism last weekend by saying: "We are genuinely not bothered by the criticism or anger because… 1. It’s all a bit silly, 2. It’s just a TV show, 3. The guff is far outweighed by the positivity."
