STRICTLY FAVOURITE
STRICTLY viewers are threatening to boycott the series after favourite Aston Merrygold was kicked off in what bookies have called “the biggest shock in reality TV history”.
The JLS singer’s dance partner Janette Manrara burst into tears after head judge Shirley Ballas opted to send him home from the dance-off.
Aston’s fellow contestant and pal Alexandra Burke was also in tears when she heard the verdict.
Bookies didn’t take a single bet on the 29-year-old leaving the show and he agreed with fans on Twitter who said he had been “under-marked” by liking several posts hitting out at the judges for his low scores.
One message read: “The judges are so harsh on Aston. Alexandra always gets high marks and hers is far from perfect.”
Aston said he had loved “every second” of the show, adding: “I’ve had friends who have done the show before and they’ve gone, ‘You’re going to have the most amount of fun from start to finish whatever it is’ – and, honestly, they weren’t lying.”
Janette added: “I just have to say, honestly I don’t think that I am ever going to have the opportunity to dance with someone like you again.
“Someone who is so talented, so lovely, such a good friend and I just have to say thank you.
“He is one of the most talented individuals I have ever met. You have so much to offer to the world of entertainment and I hope that this is just a small pebble to what you’re going to bring the world because you are amazing.”
The dismissal was especially upsetting for Aston because his grandmother Mavis had flown in from Jamaica to watch his performance, alongside his dad Charlie.
A source said: “Aston took it in good spirits, but it was devastating that his family were there to see such a