Ed Balls reacts to Darcey Bussell’s decision he should quit show

Strictly Come Dancing star Ed Balls has laughed off Darcey Bussell’s decision to oust him from the show in a mock vote.

The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 47, exclaimed “out” when she was asked to make a decision on Chris Evans’s radio show about the fate of the former shadow chancellor.

Quizzed on BBC Breakfast about his thoughts, Ed, 49, chuckled.

“In the end all the judges have a say, in the end the public decide,” he said. “If the public vote for you to come back then I think the respectful thing to do is to come back back and do your best again.”

Ed is favourite to go on Sunday night’s show, but he said: “I’m just going to do my best again tonight and if people enjoy it, who knows?”

Chatting over the phone, he said: “The truth is, we’re getting weary now. After 10 weeks of doing all these hours, my body’s really aching.

“But the morning of the live show you’re always up for it. I’m just on my way to Elstree now to go and do the rehearsals.”

Ed added: “It’s a fabulous show which everyone really enjoys every week. Did anybody think I would get to week 10? I certainly didn’t.

“Of course there’s a lot better dancers. They were better at the beginning and they’re much better than me now.

“But all you can do is try your hardest, do your best and try to entertain. We all get better week by week, that’s what I’ve been trying to do.”

He said of broadcaster John Sergeant’s decision to walk away from a previous Strictly series after viewers kept him in: “I think that was John’s decision. It was the right thing maybe for him to do.

“I thought from the outset, although I was a novice, if I try really hard and try to get better, in the end the public should decide these things.”

Ed will be performing a tango to (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones with partner Katya Jones on Saturday’s show.

On Friday, Darcey denied there was a plot to oust Ed from the hit show – as she voted him “out” while pretending to be head judge.

The BBC has been accused of trying to remove the ex-shadow chancellor from the show this weekend by organising a group dance, in which the couples get voted off one by one, as well as the usual routine.

Darcey told Chris Evans’s Radio 2 Breakfast show: “I don’t know if he will go (this weekend). There’s no plot. It’s up to the public.”

When Chris asked broadcaster Jeremy Paxman, stage star Elaine Paige and Madness frontman Suggs to pretend to be judges and for Darcey to be head, the former prima ballerina voted Ed “out”.

At first she refused to say what she thought, telling Chris: “I don’t think I have a say because I am a judge on the show.”

But the Radio 2 DJ persisted, saying: “Len Goodman’s stepping down as head judge. We have a tie situation here. This is your audition for head judge. Is he through to the next week or is he off the show?”

Darcey exclaimed: “Out!”

Ed, who has lit up the dance floor with his performances to Gangnam Style and Great Balls Of Fire, has survived on the BBC One show thanks to votes from viewers – despite poor scoring from the judges.