Strictly Come Dancing's Shayne Ward dealt crushing blow hours before live show

Danni King
·2-min read
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu on Strictly Come Dancing
-Credit: (Image: BBC)


Shayne Ward has been dealt a huge blow ahead of Saturday night's episode of Strictly Come Dancing. The singer is due to take to the dance floor once again with professional partner Nancy Xu, with the upcoming show marking the introduction of Icons Week on the BBC programme. Shayne, 40, and Nancy, 33, will be dancing a Quickstep to hit track Help! by The Beatles.

The pair have impressed on the dance floor so far, but have sadly wound up in the bottom two on two occasions now. Shayne and Nancy faced Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk in the dance off, before competing against Dr Punam Krishan and Gorka Marquez in a second dance off. Unfortunately, predictions aren't looking good for the duo again this Saturday. Although he and Nancy narrowly missed out on elimination last week, betting odds suggest he might not be so lucky this time around, posting him as the likely next exit at odds of 6/4.

Shayne and Nancy in yellow dancing
Shayne and Nancy have been in the bottom two twice -Credit:PA

Chad Yeomans, Betway's spokesperson, shares the looming speculation: "Shayne Ward is the 6/4 favourite to be exiting the show this week, but he has company in the danger zone with Sam, JB, and Wynne following hot on his dancing heels in the elimination betting. Chris McCausland, despite a less-than-stellar performance last week, has evidently won the public's heart as he surges ahead as the firm favourite to clinch the title of Strictly champion."

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As well as Shayne, other celebrities still in the competition are Pete Wicks, Tasha Ghouri, Chris McCausland, JB Gill, Wynne Evans, Sarah Hadland, Sam Quek, Montell Douglas and Jamie Borthwick. The latest celebrity to be eliminated is Dr Punam Krishan, who sadly lost her place in the competition during Halloween Week.

Speaking about her emotional journey on the hit BBC show, Dr Punam said: "I am really proud of myself. You know, I've taken on something that's so out of my comfort zone."

Dr Punam Krishan and Gorka Marquez
Dr Punam Krishan and Gorka Marquez were eliminated after facing Shayne and Nancy in the dance off -Credit:Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire

She continued: "The one thing that I've very much learnt is to say yes more and that there is no point in your life when you can stop learning new skills. I've learnt more than dancing. I've learnt so much from Gorka.

"Everyone's been so incredible, and it's just memories that I'll take home forever, and I am very proud. I've made my family very proud, I'm just really grateful. This is just one of those things that I have dreamt about for years and I think to have one of your dreams genuinely come 'true' is just a surreal feeling. Week after week it's been incredible, I've made friends for life and everyone's just been so kind, so thank you."

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