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Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec are the second couple to leave Strictly Come Dancing 2026.
The Gavin and Stacey star, 64, and her dance partner ended up in the dance off during Sunday night’s results show, along with Shaun Wright-Phillips and professional partner Alexis Warr.
Walters and Škorjanec had previously received a total of 17 points for their Charleston to “Ooh Ahh… Just a Little Bit” by Gina G, putting them second to last on the leaderboard.
Meanwhile Wright-Phillips and Warr took last place with a score of just 15 points for their quickstep to “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees.
The public vote didn’t save them from the unenviable fate of performing their routines a second time for the judges, and after both pairs had danced again, the judging panel shared their verdicts.
Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Wright-Phillips and Warr, as did head judge Shirley Ballas.
Motsi Mabuse, however, chose to save Walters and Škorjanec – before Anton du Beke used his deciding vote to protect Wright-Phillips and Warr, and send the actor home.
Since last year, the deciding vote has been rotated between all four judges, rather than being placed in the hands of head judge Ballas each week.
Sunday night’s results show also featured a special performance from the professional dancers, which also featured Ballas and Du Beke.
Ballas headed up Team Latin while Du Beke was firmly Team Ballroom as the two styles went head to head in a showdown.
Musician Jalen Ngonda also performed his song “Burning Temptation” as pros Neil Jones and Lethabo Monametsi danced.
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There are now 13 couples remaining in the competition, following the departures of Walters and celebrity hairdresser Chris Appleton, who lost out in the dance off last week.
Next week’s episode will take the theme of Icons Week, with the celebrities and their partners performing routines inspired by “some of the best-loved recording artists in history”, according to the BBC.