19 hours Ago By Beth Allcock
SPORTS broadcaster Jeff Stelling has slammed pal Paul Merson's Strictly Come Dancing exit as "unfair." The former Sky Sports Soccer Saturday anchor - who quit the show in May 2023 after 29 years - promptly took to social media after former footballer Paul , 56, was axed from Strictly in Week 5. 6 Sports broadcaster Jeff Stelling has clapped back at Strictly Come Dancing after pal Paul Merson's exit Credit: Sky Sports 6 Former footballer Paul was given the boot in the dance off Credit: PA 6 Jeff, 69, suggested his mate's exit was 'unfair' and said the show had been 'ruined' by those with dance experience Credit: PA 6 Paul and professional partner Karen Hauer performed a lively Samba on Saturday's live show Credit: PA The Arsenal legend was given the boot after battling it out against JLS singer JB Gill in Sunday's shock Dance Off.
Jeff , 69, suggested Paul - who performed a Samba with partner Karen Hauer - came a cropper as some of his co-stars already have dance experience. In his stark message after Sunday's Results Show played out Jeff wrote: "Proud of you Merse. "Shame they ruin the show by including people who are trained dancers or have musical theatre backgrounds.
read more strictly PAUL CHOICE Fuming Strictly viewers brand show 'fix' after Paul Merson is axed in dance off WALTZING OFF Find out who has left Strictly Come Dancing so far Should be people who don’t have any dance training imo." Jeff - who quit Soccer Saturday after it was "making him ill " - then added: "But you were brilliant!" The TV star's support of his pal came after Paul's eviction was leaked by an online mole on social media site X earlier in the day. During the dance off with JB and Amy Dowden, who performed a lively Jive, all four judges revealed they were in agreement in choosing to keep the JLS star.
Most read in Reality true thoughts Big Brother fans call out Ali after she secretly brands housemate 'fake' dance flaw Strictly bosses 'left with headache' after Chris McCausland becomes fave to win kiss off 'Absolutely rancid' Big Brother fans slam 'forced' kiss between two housemates KNIVES OUT 'Please evict her' begs Big Brother housemate as secret 'feud' is revealed As Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all agreed to save JB, Shirley Ballas ' vote was not required but she admitted to show host Tess Daly that she would have also chosen to save JB. As the news began to settle on their exit, Paul told Tess: “It's been really good. I'm in a relegation battle but I don't want to leave yet.
..I need to lose more weight, says Strictly's Paul Merson "For anybody I talk to, I would say you've got to go on this show.
It's amazing - everybody. "There's a Tottenham fan over there called Lincoln and even he's nice! It's been amazing, honestly, amazing. I loved every minute of it, I've had a great teacher.
" He went onto add of his pro partner Karen: “She’s been amazing, absolutely amazing and I couldn't wish for a better coach. "I’ve loved every minute of it. Strictly 2024 pairings Here's who is matched with who this series.
.. Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk Paul Merson and Karen Hauer Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu Wynne Evans and Katya Jones "I can dance now - I've won because I can dance, I couldn't dance before and I can half dance now.
It's a bonus, absolute bonus.” FAN FURY Yet Paul's legions of loyal fans were quick to brand the outcome a fix. One fan took to social media to question the entire Strictly results process and said: “I think they just pick anyone to be in the dance off.
The votes don’t mean anything at all. "Waste of money. They have prob already decided who’s in the dance off.
All fixed.” A second added: “They always say it’s about the dance off but it can’t have been because Paul was the better dancer in it so it seems like a fix.” And a third said: “They knew they’d save JB even though his jive was messy and boring.
"Paul has been brilliant to watch and should’ve been saved. What a fix." It came after his dance skills had vastly improved through the series.
Read more on the Scottish Sun 'TELLS YOU EVERYTHING' Leon Balogun's post-match revelation leaves Rangers fans concerned 'BILL DODGE' Scots restaurant releases CCTV of dine & dashers 'who fled during smoke break' Meanwhile, viewers have also called on the show to make a major change after the couple crashed out. They fear plum professional Karen won't stick around unless she is paired with more popular contestants. 6 Jeff praised Paul's dance progress as 'brilliant' Credit: PA 6 Fans have also been quick to brand Paul's elimination a 'fix' Credit: PA.
