hirley ballas has revealed she was “absolutely mortified” that her fellow Strictly Come Dancing judges voted to send Kaye Adams Sunday evening at home.
The 62-year-old ballroom dancer has been the head judge of the popular BBC One celebrity dance competition since 2017.
Speaking to The One Show about the first dance-off in Strictly’s 20th series, which featured Loose Women star Adams, 59, and the Bros singer Matt Goss fight it out to avoid elimination, Ballas said: “I just felt on the night that both couples were making mistakes, but Kaye’s quality was far superior that night, and I was absolutely mortified that she left to be very honest.”
Ballas continued, “I love my fellow judges, and we’re all there to do our job, but that was one they didn’t quite understand.”
When asked if she and fellow judges disagreed over differences of opinion in the panel, Ballas said: “No, not at all.
“You know, sometimes I’m just happy when they agree and it’s not my job to send someone home.
“But [Adams] was and had the most beautiful movement. She was fluid and I like fluidity. There you go.”
Adams was the first celebrity to be voted off the show after failing to impress the judges and viewers with her performance of the Charleston to Music! Music! Music! with professional partner Kai Widdrington.
She faced 54-year-old Goss who took to the dance floor with his partner Nadiya Bychkova to perform their samba on the Bee Gees’ Night Fever, which impressed the judges enough to earn him at least another week in the competition.
Meanwhile, after performing together with professional partner Dianne Buswell in Saturday night’s live show, radio DJ Tyler West ran the London Marathon on Sunday.
On balancing the two physically demanding activities, West told Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two that for Strictly, rehearsing is harder than marathon training.
He told presenter and former Strictly professional Janette Manrara: “You know, it’s been a struggle, I can’t lie.
“The recovery process is key in this situation, but you know what, if I can run a marathon, anything is possible now.”
West also revealed that Buswell, who has been a pro on the show since 2017, did a great job of encouraging him during Sunday’s running event, but ironically she almost missed him at one point.
“There was even a moment when she almost missed me as I ran past,” he said.
He added jokingly: “She was so focused on me!”
After crossing the finish line, West shared a heartfelt post on Instagram thanking people for their support, which was greeted with many good wishes from a number of Strictly stars.
Fellow celebrity dancer Fleur East wrote: “Unbelievable! Well done brother!!!”
Strictly professional dancer Jowita Przystal said “go on Tyler!!!” and Johannes Radebe added: “Well done Dad. X”.