Strictly head judge Shirley Ballas hits back at fans who repeatedly claim the BBC show is fixed after Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin's elimination sparked more public outrage

Strictly Come Dancing's Shirley Ballas has hit back at fans who were left outraged to see Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin be the latest couple to leave the competition on Sunday. 

The head judge, 64, snapped as she confessed she thought it was 'childish' to blame the judges for the outcome. 

Shirley was slammed over the weekend after fans of the BBC show revealed that they believe Sam was under scored by the judges because they believed there were weaker dancers being score higher. 

But now she has hit back and reminded the public that their vote has an impact on  who is put into the dance off on Sunday evenings.

The judge said: 'The show's been on over 20 years. The public vote makes a difference.'

 'You the public can vote to save your favourites. It gets childish to blame the judges.' 

After being accused of unfairly marking down the female celebrities, Shirley responded, 'I haven't got a mean bone in my body.'

Sam and Nikita were scored 29 for their American Smooth performance during Saturday's episode which landed them at the bottom of the leaderboard. 

Then after a public vote then went head to head in a shock dance off against Montell Douglas and Johannas Radebe, which landed them being voted off by the judges.

But the scoring of the couple left fans outraged as they claimed they were unfairly scored. 

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one penned: ''This bottom two when Wynne and Pete are right there?!?!'

'If we don't see Wynne or Pete in the dance off next week i am gunna kick off.'

 'I need Pete to be the dance off next week. We're losing decent dancers and he's just not there.'

'#strictly pete shayne and wynne were the weakest!'

'Pete should have gone home this week, he was atrocious. Yes I've read the spoiler & I'm really cross. The other pair should NEVER have been anywhere near the dance off'

'Poor Sam didn't deserve to go. Pete did. Shirley didn't judge him fairly, she hasn't all series. She needs the sack. She has ruined this show in the way she's picked favourites. Len never did.'

'Sam and Montel should never have been in the dance-off. There's some mediocre men that should have been there. Very unfair as they were both what strictly is about. Loved watching them both progress.

On Sunday, Sam and Nikita performed their American Smooth to Love Story by Taylor Swift again, while Montell and Johannes performed their Waltz to I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston.

With three votes in favour of Montell and Johannes, they won the majority vote meaning that Sam and Nikita would be leaving the competition. 

Head Judge Shirley Ballas also agreed and said she would have decided to save Montell and Johannes.

When asked by Tess about her time on the show, Sam said: 'I'm gutted, I just want to say thank you. 

'I've learned so much. Strictly has just brought that spring in my step back. It's just been an absolute joy. 

'Nikita, you've been key in helping me find that inner Sam that was there, who went a little bit quiet for maybe one or two years and has just come back. I'm gutted because I do feel like I still have more to give.'

Nikita said: 'I'm just in awe of this girl. Sometimes they say it's about the journey, not the destination, but to me it's about the company. 

'Sam you are the most wonderful company I could have had.'

'I'm guilty of watching the competition and thinking 'How do they have that relationship as a celebrity and a dancer?' Sam added. 

'All I can say is, the time you spend with each other and what you bring out in each other. It really is, and it sounds dead cheesy, magical.'

Viewers were treated to a performance from K-Pop's newest boyband dearALICE, as well as a dazzling Beyoncé medley.

The group dance saw Johannes channel his inner Sasha Fierce as the protagonist in the routine - which was filled with bejewelled cowboy hats, power ballad moves and sparkling sass.

Strictly fans were left in shock after the results were again leaked online in a huge spoiler.

Many were surprised at who ended up in the bottom two and had to dance their routines for a second time. 

While others expressed their annoyance at the leak which has been common most Sundays duringthe  recent series due to a notorious mole.

They penned on X (Twitter): 'actually so annoyed at this??? neither of the couples in the dance off deserved to be there when they've improved week after week and then there's others that have had several bad weeks and keep sailing through.',

'WHAT?! I'M FLOORED!! This has fully p***ed me off actually.',

'I'm sorry what!! My first question is why was either couple in the dance off??!! And 2nd why are the worse ones still in?',

'what the hell did i just saw ??? the two couples in the dance off was not supposed to be in the dance off to begin with.'