Strictly Come Dancing fix? Shirley Ballas hits back!

Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has hit back at claims the show is fixed.

Despite being a favourite to win, it was Aston Merrygold who left Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at the weekend.

He was in the latest bottom two dance off against Mollie King after the viewer votes and judges’ scores were combined.

Craig Revel Horwood and Shirley both voted to save Mollie while Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli saved Aston. As head judge, Shirley had the casting vote and so Mollie was saved and Aston went home.

The decision angered viewers with both Craig and Shirley facing flak from viewers.

But Shirley says there is no “fix” and it says viewers have to share the blame for any surprise exit.

“There’s no fix. None at all,” said Shirley. “It’s a TV show at the end of the day, everybody tunes in, everybody has a chance to vote. It’s in everybody’s living room, they’re all enjoying it.”

She told ITV’s Loose Women: “There’s nothing at all like that – so it’s just a load of rubbish.

“You can only judge exactly what you see on the evening. Not before performances and not coming up. Nothing like that. [Mollie’s dance] was better. She had more glide, it was better technically. It was just unfortunate.

“Again, I ask Great Britain, where were those votes? Why were they in the bottom two? Why were they there in the first place?”

Following Aston’s surprise departure, Debbie McGee has been installed as the current favourite to win.

Strictly is back this Saturday night as the remaining nine celebs fight for a place at the upcoming Blackpool special.