Sixth couple eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing as Shirley Ballas has deciding vote
The remaining couples will return to the dance floor next Saturday
Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu have become the sixth couple to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
The House of the Dragon actor, 28, and her dance partner ended up in the dance-off with former Love Island contestant Cach Mercer and his partner Maddie Ingoldsby during Sunday night’s results show.
Earlier in the night, the pair had reprised their foxtrot to “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis, which had scored them 30 on Saturday’s live show, putting them joint fourth on the leaderboard before public votes were taken into account.
Mercer and Ingoldsby, who performed their waltz to “That Ain’t You” by Mulaa Joans, which scored 26 on Saturday, put them joint bottom of the leaderboard on judges’ scores.
Following the dance-off, Judge Anton Du Beke chose to save Mercer and Ingoldsby, while fellow judges Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood voted to save Antonia and Xu, head judge Shirley Ballas had Sunday’s deciding vote and saved Mercer and Ingoldsby.
After Saturday’s show, former Love Island winner Dani Dyer topped the leaderboard with her partner Nikita Kuzmin, getting their first 10 as they scored 36 for their American smooth to “It Had to Be You” by Harry Connick Jr.
The Sunday results show also commemorated Remembrance Sunday with a group performance from the Strictly professionals.
The dance, which was set to the Peter Gabriel arrangement of David Bowie’s Heroes, was choreographed by Lizzie Gough and opened with British soldiers leaving for war.
It was inspired by The Monument To The Women Of World War II, focusing on the lives of women during the conflict.
The results show also featured music from Gregory Porter, accompanied by a routine from professional dancers Alexis Warr and Aljaz Skorjanec.
Strictly will return on Saturday, November 14, at 6.25pm, when the remaining couples will return to the dancefloor, with the results show airing on Sunday, November 15, at 7.15pm.
It is hoped actress Jaime Winstone will return to the show next week, having missed Saturday’s live show through injury.
