One-time favourite voted off Strictly in shock departure
STRICTLY COME Dancing favourite Aston Merrygold has become the sixth star to be voted off the show in one of the biggest shock departures of the series.
The 29-year-old, who was tipped as one of the favourites to win, made his exit after judge Shirley Ballas had the final, casting vote following a dance-off with Mollie King.
Dance partner Janette Manrara praised the ex-JLS star as “one of the most talented individuals I have ever met”.
Merrygold usually found himself near the top of the leaderboard until Saturday’s Viennese waltz failed to impress the judging panel.
On yesterday evening’s show, judges Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli opted to save Merrygold and Manrara after both couples performed their dances again.
Bussell said that the duo put on a “more assured performance” while Tonioli told the couple that they had “transformed their performance”.
But Craig Revel Horwood, who shocked viewers on Saturday night when he gave Merrygold a four, wanted to save King and her dance partner AJ Pritchard.
Delivering her verdict with the final, casting vote, head judge Ballas saved The Saturdays’ singer King, saying it was a “very difficult choice”.
Father-to-be Merrygold said he had enjoyed “every second” of the experience, adding: “I’ve made some amazing friends and honestly I’ve had the best time, it’s been amazing.”
Merrygold and Manrara had a score of just 25 at the end of Saturday night’s show, putting them only one place above Ruth Langsford and Anton Du Beke, who were at the bottom of the leaderboard.