Melanie Walters Eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing

Melanie Walters, known for her role in the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey, and her professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec have been eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2026. They became the second couple to depart the competition on Sunday night following a dance-off against former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and his partner Alexis Warr.

Walters' Charleston, performed to Gina G's "Ooh Ahh... Just A Little Bit," received a score of 17 on Saturday. Wright-Phillips and Warr finished at the bottom of the leaderboard with 15 points. In the dance-off, while judge Motsi Mabuse cast a vote to save Walters and Skorjanec, the other three judges—Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke—chose to save Wright-Phillips and Warr.

Following their elimination, Walters expressed that she had anticipated leaving the previous week, allowing her an "extra week with this wonderful soul"—referring to Skorjanec. The professional dancer praised Walters as an "ultimate professional" and acknowledged her dedication, stating they began each day with "partner let's have the best day ever" and ended with a hug and thanks for their time together.

The couple's final performance on the dance floor was met with well wishes for the remaining contestants. They are scheduled to appear on "Strictly It Takes Two" on Monday. Next week's theme will be "Icons Week."

Meanwhile, the show's judging panel experienced some tension. Craig Revel Horwood referred to head judge Shirley Ballas as a "fun sponge" after she delivered a critical assessment of Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb and his partner Jowita Przystal's rumba. Viewers noted that Ballas appeared to be issuing more low scores and receiving more boos from the audience than Revel Horwood.

Ballas described Robb's rumba as "not my cup of tea, flat-footed and too much standing around," while awarding an extra point for "hitting one nice line." Anton Du Beke disagreed with Ballas's critique, expressing his liking for the style of rumba. Revel Horwood praised Robb's "great storytelling."

Robb and Przystal received a total of 20 points, with judges Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse awarding five points each, Anton Du Beke giving six, and Shirley Ballas four. Some viewers on X (formerly Twitter) felt Ballas was overly harsh, arguing that choreography, not the celebrity, should be blamed for missteps and that she should have been gentler given it was Robb's first rumba.

Similar sentiments were expressed regarding Ballas's scoring of Olympian Tabby Stoecker and her partner Mark Karmalita. Their Argentine tango, which received a standing ovation from the audience and praise from Mabuse and Du Beke, was awarded a seven by Ballas, while her fellow judges awarded eights. Viewers on X called the score "undermarked" and suggested Ballas's critique was based on personal taste rather than the performance itself.