IT was the Strictly dance off that divided the panel, as head judge Shirley Ballas chose to save Toyah Wilcox, sending Olympian Tom Dean and partner Nadia home.

But now fans of the BBC show think they know the real reason why Shirley used her deciding vote to save Toyah and partner Neil Jones.

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Fans think Shirley saved Toyah to stop her from going to BarbadosCredit: BBC

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Toyah and Neil were saved in the dance off, but fans were were sad to see Tom leaveCredit: BBC

Ahead of the dance-off, Toyah had said: “I am going to give it everything I’ve got and if not I’ll be in Barbados by Tuesday.” 

The camera panned to the judges looking unimpressed by her comments.

Now fans are suggesting that Shirley Ballas deliberately chose to prevent her from jetting off to the tropical Island.

One said: “I think that Shirley saved Toyah just so that she couldn’t go to Barbados.”

Meanwhile another said: “Shirley didn’t like Toyah’s defiance on the Barbados comment.”

But much outrage followed the elimination of Olympic Gold medallist Tom Dean, who many believed was robbed of the chance to blossom on the show.

Tom and Nadiya were sent home after performing their Cha Cha to Boogie Wonderland by Earth Wind and Fire.

Judges Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse both plumped to save Toyah, but Anton Du Beke thought Tom and Nadiya were the stronger partnership.

With two votes for Toyah and Neil and one for Tom and Nadiya, head judge Shirley cast her cast her deciding vote in favour or Toyah and Neil.

Swimming ace Tom looked visibly crestfallen as he said: “Coming straight from the Paris 2024 Olympics into Strictly Come Dancing has been a whirlwind but I’m so so proud.

“The journey may have ended a little earlier than I hoped and of course I am so gutted, but I’m so grateful for all the amazing people I met, people I’ll be cheering on throughout and who I know will continue to smash it.

And to my brilliant partner @nadiyabychkova, thank you so much for everything. You’ve been an amazing teacher and to have danced alongside you has been an absolute privilege.

“Over and out Strictly! You’ve been an absolute blast x”

A slew of fans on social media raged at the decision to send Tom home, claiming that it was a fix, after Tom has so far achieved higher scores than Toyah in the competition so far.

One said:

“Absolute fix. They obviously have some deal to give Neil more air time this year. Poor Tom. Not on at all,” wrote one fan.

“Tom has been robbed!! Toyah was by far the worse dancer!!! Absolute Fix” said a second.

A furious third wrote: “No…wrong wrong wrong…..getting fed up with this show now,think the judges must be being told who to save, Tom should have stayed over Torah 100%”

“WHAT? Toyah went through to next week over Tom?” raged a fourth. “That’s wrong, Toyah was one of the lowest scoring competitors,along with paul merson.

“Judges call themselves experts, they must either been blindfolded/paid off or told by bbc to put Toyah through.”

Indeed Nadiya Bychkova was also hugely disappointed that her journey on the BBC show had been cut short.

Writing on social media, she said: “I really appreciate all the messages but I’m not ready to talk about what happened tonight just yet.”

Her former partner on the show Dan Walker was also furious at the decision and shared his own post.

He wrote:  “What just happened on Strictly feels a bit messed up.

“@tomdean00’s departure will go down as one of THE early shocks. Lovely bloke who really could have become a great dancer. He looked like he was loving every second of it and @nadiyabychkova looked like she loved teaching him.

“I’m not an expert – and I’m happy for someone to explain – but how he lost that dance off is completely beyond my comprehension. Genuinely thought they could have gone a long way.”

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The panel was divided over who should stay or go home, but head judge Shirley had the final sayCredit: PA

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Craig and Motsi voted for Toyah but Anton voted for Tom, in the end Shirley’s vote countedCredit: BBC

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Tom was the first to leave a decision that many thought was unfair due to his obvious enthusiasm and passion for the showCredit: PA