Strictly fans were left gutted for Lauren Oakley last night (Sunday, October 26) as her pro partner Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink was eliminated from the competition.
Fans took to social media to discuss the result, with many demanding that Lauren, 34, never gets benched on the show again.
Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley eliminated from Strictly
Last night’s results show saw Jimmy and Amber Davies land in the bottom two.
This was despite them being joint fourth and joint second on the leaderboard, respectively.
After Jimmy performed his American Smooth to Prince’s Purple Rain, and Amber performed her Cha Cha Cha to Ariana Grande’s Break Free, it was down to the judges to choose who they were going to save.
Unfortunately for Jimmy, the judges unanimously opted to save Amber, meaning his time on the show is now over.
Fans of the show were not happy. “Jimmy being in the dance off full stop is one of those incredibly underserved moments. Easily in the top half of performers and seemed to be quite popular. The fact he had to go up against Amber makes it even worse as he was never going to survive that,” one fan said.
“All I’ll say about this – the result is a complete joke. Wrong two people in the dance-off and wrong person went out,” another wrote.
Fans demand Lauren is ‘never benched again’
Following her elimination alongside Jimmy, fans of the show took to social media to demand that Lauren never be benched on the show again.
Lauren has been on Strictly since 2022. In her first year, she did not have a celebrity partner; however, in her second year, she was paired with Krishnan Guru-Murthy. They finished in eighth.
Last year, Lauren was benched again; however, she stepped in to replace Amy Dowden when she got injured. Alongside JB Gill, she reached the final, finishing as one of the runner-ups.
Now, after getting through to week five with Jimmy, viewers want to ensure that she’s never without a celebrity partner again.
“Absolutely devastated Jimmy and Lauren are out already. Need Lauren to get a winner contender next year. She’s the best pro by a mile on the female side,” one viewer tweeted.
‘Best pro by a mile’
Other fans were in agreement.
“The way Lauren has grown over the past few years to become one of the most established female pros on #Strictly is amazing @laurenmayoakley. As a fellow Brummie – it’s been great to see her progress on this show. I hope she never gets benched again. She’s a real superstar!” another said.
“Lauren is one of my favourite dancers. Hope we see her given a contender next year,” a third then wrote.
“Gutted for Lauren!!!!!! I know she reached the final last year, but she was benched at first,” another said.
“IN APPRECIATION TWEET FOR LAUREN OAKLEY! What she’s achieved over the last 2 years on #Strictly has to be admired – reaching the final with JB Gill last year and taking Jimmy to Week 5. She brings the best out of all her partners and this is why she can’t be benched again,” a fifth then gushed.
Read more: Strictly fans concerned for George Clarke as he lands bottom of the leaderboard: ‘Breaks my heart’
Strictly continues on Saturday, November 1 at 6:35pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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