Strictly Come Dancing professional, Neil Jones, has once again defended the judge’s decision to see himself and Toyah Willcox safe from elimination after fans were left furious that Nadiya Bychkova and Tom Dean were sent packing.
On Saturday night, Jones and Willcox alongside Dean and Bychkova faced the dreaded dance-off after failing to impress the viewers at home – with Anton Du Beke being the only judge to save the Olympian.
Moments after the results were announced, Bychkova took to her Instagram to express her “disappointment” at being kicked from the competition so early on – with Dean adding he wished they had “gone further”.
Many fans were left outraged at the result and took to their X accounts to express their thoughts, with many claiming that the show had already been “fixed”, likening it to previous years.
Tonight, Jones and Willcox joined It Takes Two host Fleur East and once again defended their right to be in the competition still, with Willcox describing the moment as: “Really frightening and upsetting, disappointing, heartbreaking, everything that is a negative was in that moment, it was shocking.”
Jones – who hasn’t been paired with a celebrity since series 19 – added: “It is one of those things that I said before to Toyah, I said ‘Look, two couples are going to be in that position’.
“I said ‘If that happens it is what it is and we can’t do anything about it, other than come back fighting’ and I was just really proud of her because I was like she was brilliant, she was so good and you improved so much that week.”
The Roses in Chains singer concluded: “As a singer you know when we have to perform in whatever environment we’re in, we perform. And when went into this kind of dance-off, something went off in me like hellfire.
“I just thought ‘No one is going to do this to me, I am going to survive this’, I went somewhere else and I felt powerful and I think we did well.”
This isn’t the first time that Jones has addressed the “fix” claims by fans, as he posted an image of the two of them performing on his Instagram on Sunday night and penned: “Ladies and Gentlemen when you ask me how my Saturday night went.
Neil Jones and Toyah Willcox discussed their performance on It Takes Two
BBC
“I just want to say it’s week 2 @toyahofficial is not a dancer but every day she’s improving. Each day I tell Toyah, it might not be perfect but you are improving and at the same time you are not losing who you really are and that is what @bbcstrictly is all about.
“You bring so much joy in our lives and I feel lucky that I have the opportunity to teach and guide you so we can both entertain.
He was met with criticism from his followers as one hit out: “Sorry Neil as much as I was over the moon that you had a partner this year, I’m very disappointed that Toyah was saved and Tom is out. Totally disagree with that decision.”
However, Jones wasn’t prepared to back down and fired back: “Thank you I’m really happy that I have the pleasure to teach a complete beginner like toyah and honestly the improvement she is making blows my mind, I wish nobody went home so we could see everyone improve.”
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Neil Jones and Toyah Willcox were saved by the judges over Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova
BBC
“Sorry, I totally disagree with the judge’s decision,” another viewer penned.
Jones replied once again: “I wish nobody would go home. Of course I fully understand, Tom was wonderful and such a great dancer, I wish we could watch everyone’s journey.”