BBC Strictly Come Dancing semi-finalists named as judges 'can't believe' results

Strictly Come Dancing viewers have named their semi-finalists - after a shock dance-off that left fans and the judges stunned. Five couples have made it through to the semi-finals next weekend - Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell, Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec, JB Gill and Lauren Oakley, Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal and Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola.

Viewers were baffled as host Tess Daly announced Tasha Ghouri - who scored the first and only 40 of the competition so far - was the first competitor in the dance off, her first time in the bottom two. As well as gasps from the audience, her co-star Sarah Hadland looked visibly shocked.

A stunned Craig Revel Horwood said: "I sort of can't believe it because you're one of our best dancers in this competition" and Motsi admitted she was also 'speechless'. Tasha was confirmed to be facing Gladiator star Montell Douglas in the dance-off.

Read more Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse 'speechless' after public votes

The judges unanimously chose to send Montell and partner Johannes Radebe home, who had previously been in the dance-off three times. Montell burst into tears as she said: "For me Strictly has touchd me in ways I never knew possible. I'm an Olympian, a Gladiator, but I have honestly struggled with confidence my whole life and to be on the show with the beautiful crew, judges, everyone, the cast, it has been such an honour and to dance with this many every day.

"I have found a friend and a brother in this man and I hope he is in my life forever." Johannes said: "I am so proud of you..the way you handled it was like a tre pro."

Speaking on last night's live show, the former British record holder for the 100m said: "Being in the dance off for the third time, it's not easy to bounce back from that every time. It's like a little nick and a little chip and you're waiting for that cup to eventually break. Us coming into the studio and working so hard, it is tough to know that that every week might not be enough."

Strictly Come Dancing fans were gutted for Montell, and couldn't believe it was her time to leave the show despite her ending up in the bottom three four times in the competition. One wrote on X: "Absolute joke. Tasha and Montell in the dance off was crazy! Week 11 and people are voting for a man walking around posing and saying he’s improved. For Pete’s sake."

"No way Montell deserved to leave Strictly tonight," another said. "Nor did Tasha for that matter."

"Some kind of joke ! Two weeks running better dancers have gone out! Yea, credit to his run, etc, but Pete should have gone," another fan added.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer next Saturday and Sunday.