Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Montell Douglas is the tenth celebrity to be eliminated following third dance-off in a row – after fans accused show of ‘setting her up to fail’

Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Montell Douglas is the tenth celebrity to be eliminated following third dance-off in a row - after fans accused show of 'setting her up to fail'

After witnessing Montell’s enchanting performance this week, I must say I am truly heartbroken to see her bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing. Her life journey is nothing short of inspiring, and it’s evident that she has given everything on that dance floor.

On Sunday evening, Montell Douglas unfortunately faced elimination during Musicals Week on Strictly Come Dancing, making her the 10th celebrity contestant to leave the competition.

For the third consecutive week, the leading star from “Gladiators”, aged 38, along with her professional dance partner Johannes Radebe, found themselves at risk of elimination based on public votes. They were pitted against Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec in this challenging situation.

Initially, Montell and Johannes began with a Rumba dance to the song “I’m Here” from the musical The Color Purple. Subsequently, Tasha and Aljaž showcased their Argentine Tango skills to the track “Ex-Wives” from Six.

Overwhelmed as an ardent fan, I couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement when the dance-off concluded. With bated breath, I watched as Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke deliberated. In the end, it was my beloved Tasha and Aljaž who were saved, keeping my heart racing with anticipation.

In agreement with the other judges, Shirley Ballas stated that she too would have chosen to eliminate Montell and Johannes from the competition.

Although Montell just fell short of qualifying for the upcoming semifinals, she enthusiastically shared her positive feelings about being part of the show. She expressed how her self-assurance had blossomed during this time, and Johannes emerged as a dear friend and confidant to her.

Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Montell Douglas is the tenth celebrity to be eliminated following third dance-off in a row - after fans accused show of 'setting her up to fail'

Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Montell Douglas is the tenth celebrity to be eliminated following third dance-off in a row - after fans accused show of 'setting her up to fail'
Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Montell Douglas is the tenth celebrity to be eliminated following third dance-off in a row - after fans accused show of 'setting her up to fail'

She said: ‘[Johannes] has been amazing. Strictly has touched me in ways I never knew possible. 

Despite being an Olympian and a Gladiator, I’ve faced challenges with self-confidence throughout my life. Being part of this show, surrounded by the stunning crew, esteemed judges, and remarkable cast, has truly been a humbling honor for me.

To his companion, Johannes expressed admiration saying, “I’m incredibly proud of you! Despite not being a dancer yourself, you manage to produce stunning dance performances each and every week.

‘So I want to say to you, thank you for respecting our art form of Ballroom and Latin. The way you handled it was like a true pro. You’re my winner.’

Responding, Montell conveyed sincerely, “I owe you a great debt of gratitude because I’ve discovered not just a friend, but a brother in this man. It comes from the deepest part of me; I pray our bond endures forever, for we share something truly unique.

Following criticism from viewers, who claimed that Strictly’s management had unfairly set Montell up for failure by choosing the wrong dance and song for her, the duo has decided to leave the competition, as they found themselves in the dance-off for two consecutive weeks.

Before she even stepped onto the dance floor, many spectators seemed certain that the Olympian would struggle due to being assigned the challenging Rumba dance to “I’m Here” from The Color Purple, a song known for its difficulty.

As a die-hard dance enthusiast, I can’t help but feel the thrill and anticipation when it comes to the Rumba – a dance so intricate, it’s often hailed as one of the toughest ballroom dances out there. And here’s the kicker: Montell and Johannes were slotted to perform second, a position some fans affectionately refer to as the ‘death slot’. But for me, it’s not about the challenge; it’s about the dance, their passion, and the electrifying energy they bring to the floor.

Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Montell Douglas is the tenth celebrity to be eliminated following third dance-off in a row - after fans accused show of 'setting her up to fail'
Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Montell Douglas is the tenth celebrity to be eliminated following third dance-off in a row - after fans accused show of 'setting her up to fail'
Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Montell Douglas is the tenth celebrity to be eliminated following third dance-off in a row - after fans accused show of 'setting her up to fail'
Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Montell Douglas is the tenth celebrity to be eliminated following third dance-off in a row - after fans accused show of 'setting her up to fail'

Over the last fortnight, they’ve barely made it through, having narrowly avoided being eliminated alongside Wynne Evans and Katya Jones, as well as Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas.

Last week seven had me on tenterhooks, finding myself teetering precariously in the bottom two. Fortunately, I was spared elimination alongside Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin, a narrow escape I won’t soon forget!

Critics heavily criticized the production team this week, claiming they were unfairly eliminating Montell from the contest by deliberately sidelining his performances.

Although they appeared utterly amazed by the celebrity’s performance, they thought the tune moved at a leisurely pace relative to the lively dance – an observation echoed by multiple judges, resulting in a total score of 32 out of 40 for her.

Audience members rapidly expressed their views about X, commending the dancer’s graceful performance and applauding the athlete, yet simultaneously expressing worries that she might face elimination next.

The BBC seems quite clear about who they prefer not to have around. In essence, it feels like they are hinting at wanting Montell gone, but not explicitly stating it.

It seems quite unusual to assign a Rumba during Musical week to a contestant who has found themselves in the bottom three on multiple occasions.

Here’s one way of paraphrasing the given sentence: ‘Montell performed the Rumba dance in the final performance slot this week, but it seems like she was unfairly treated by the producers.’ or ‘Despite Montell being voted for the Rumba, it appears that the producers have placed her in a challenging position, almost as if they were setting her up to fail.’

Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Montell Douglas is the tenth celebrity to be eliminated following third dance-off in a row - after fans accused show of 'setting her up to fail'
Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Montell Douglas is the tenth celebrity to be eliminated following third dance-off in a row - after fans accused show of 'setting her up to fail'

I’m concerned that Montell might have been given an unfavorable turn of events; it seems like the Strictly producers are up to something again. Montell deserves more than this! I was hoping for a lively Charleston performance from team Jojo this week.

‘They stitched up Shayne and now they’re stitching up Montell. The difference though is that Montell is too good to leave this early. She should be a finalist! I’m fuming!’

Producers are putting Montell in the last dance slot performing a Rumba, presumably to help Chris and Pete advance to the finals… Makes me queasy. #Strictly

Sunday’s results show featured a phenomenal performance of The Schuyler Sisters from the acclaimed musical Hamilton, and a dazzling group number from the professional dancers to As If We Never Said Goodbye from Sunset Boulevard.

After Montell departed, now just five celebrities remain in the contest, with only a single week left before the identities of the final four competitors are unveiled.

Next week, the final five pairs are set to hit the dance floor for the semifinals. In this round, each couple will showcase not one, but two different dances.

On Saturdays, starting from the 7th of December at 6:30 PM, you can catch Strictly Come Dancing live on BBC One and iPlayer. And if you want to know the results, tune in to BBC One and iPlayer on Sundays at 7:20 PM, same time, same place!

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2024-12-01 23:04

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