Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Montell Douglas is the tenth celebrity to be eliminated following third dance-off in a row – after fans accused show of ‘setting her up to fail’

Montell Douglas finally fell prey to the dance-off on Sunday night as she became the tenth celebrity to be ejected from Strictly Come Dancing during Musicals Week.

The Gladiators star, 38, and her professional partner Johannes Radebe ended up in the bottom two of the public voting for the third week in a row, against Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec.

First, Montell and Johannes started working on their Rumba to I’m Here from the musical The Color Purple, followed by the Argentine Tango of Tasha and Aljaž to Ex-Wives from Six.

After both couples had danced the hardest, it was up to the judges to give their verdict Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all choose to save Tasha and Aljaž.

While head judge Shirley Ballas agreed with her fellow judges and said she too would have decided to send Montell and Johannes home.

Despite narrowly missing out on a place in next week’s semi-finals, Montell opened up about her experience on the show, describing how her confidence had grown as Johannes had become her ‘friend and brother’.

She said:[Johannes] was great. Strictly has touched me in ways I never thought possible.

“I’m an Olympian and a gladiator, but I’ve honestly struggled with self-confidence all my life and it’s such an honor to be on the show, with the wonderful crew, the judges and the cast.”

Johannes turned to his partner and praised, “I am so proud of you because you are a non-dancer. But all you’ve been doing every week is dancing beautifully.

“So I want to say to you, thank you for respecting our art form Ballroom and Latin. The way you handled it was like a true professional. You are my winner.”

In response, Montell emotionally told him, “I have to thank you because I have truly found a friend and a brother in this man.” I mean it from the bottom of my heart, I hope he will be in my life forever because we have something very special.”

Their departure comes after fans criticized Strictly for accusing bosses of ‘setting Montell up for failure’ with the ‘wrong dancing and singing’ – after she had been left in the dance-off for two weeks in a row.

Even before hitting the dance floor, viewers were convinced the Olympian was doomed after she was tasked with dancing the notoriously difficult Rumba to The Color Purple’s song I’m Here.

The Rumba is widely considered one of the most challenging ballroom dances, while Montell and Johannes would come in second, which several fans call the ‘death slot’.

The pair had only barely survived the past two weeks after facing potential eliminations against Wynne Evans and Katya Jones, and Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas.

While they were also in the bottom two in week seven, where they were mercifully saved by Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin.

Fans slammed producers for giving Montell ‘the kiss of death’ this week, claiming their favorite dancer was purposefully pushed out of the competition.

While they seemed absolutely in awe of the star’s routine, they were convinced that the song was very ‘slow’ compared to the spirited dance – a point noted by several judges, who gave her a score of 32 points out of 40 gifts.

Viewers quickly took to X to share their thoughts, praising the athlete’s “beautiful” dance but also sharing fears that she will be the next to get the chop.

They commented: ‘The BBC are so clear about who they want to take out. I mean, this is practically a “tell me you want Montell out without actually telling me” situation.

‘It is ridiculous to give a rumba during Musicals Week to a participant who has been at the bottom three times?; “Worried about Montell with a rumba so late in the series and being in the bottom two so often.”

‘montell in the death slot with her rumba… when I catch your producers; Voted for Montell, she got attached this week; They just went and put Montell in the coffin with a rumba….”

“I fear Montell has received the kiss of death; I see you. Strictly producers, I see you. Montell deserves better! I would have loved to see a Charleston from team Jojo this week!

“They stitched up Shayne and now they’re stitching up Montell. The difference, however, is that Montell is too good to leave so early. She should be a finalist! I’m smoking!’

‘The producers putting Montell in the death slot with a Rumba so they can drag their precious Chris and Pete into the final… I feel sick #Strictly’.

Sunday’s results show featured a phenomenal performance by The Schuyler Sisters from the critically acclaimed musical Hamilton, and a dazzling group number from the professional dancers to Sunset Boulevard’s As If We Never Said Goodbye.

After Montell’s departure, there are only five celebrities left in the competition, with just one week to go before the final four are announced.

The final five couples will take to the dance floor next week for the semi-finals, where they will each perform two dances.

Strictly Come Dancing returns live on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 7 December at 1830. The results air on Sunday 8 December at 1920 on BBC One and iPlayer.