Strictly fans beg for Anton Du Beke to be given stronger partner next year

Strictly viewers have called for Anton Du Beke to be given a strong dancer to compete with next year after his partner Susannah Constantine became the first celebrity to be booted off the dancefloor.

The fashion guru received her marching orders during Sunday night’s results show, after she and Anton lost out to Lee Ryan and Nadiya Bychkova in the dance off.

Fans were upset to see Anton, who has never the won the show and whose partners have included Judy Murray and Ann Widdecombe, go so soon.

“Just gutted for #anton,” said one person on Twitter.

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“Feel sorry for Anton. But the good news is…..he’s going to be given a tree to dance with next year so he can progress further in the competition than he did with Susannah,” quipped another.

“Isn’t it time he got coupled up with someone who has more potential?!!!!!!” asked another.

Another person posted: “It really isn’t fair that Anton is always partnered with someone who can’t dance. It means he gets voted off quickly and is never on our screens for long. Happens every time.”

Many fans of the BBC programme said they wanted to see Anton given one of the better dancers next year.

One person posted: “Petition for #Strictly to finally give Anton a partner that stands a chance. His face breaks my heart.”

“I hate when Anton leaves so early! Wish they’d give him someone who can actually dance! Give him a chance,” urged another.

“Dear BBC can Anton win next year?” asked one fan.

Susannah accepted her exit was “the right choice”, after coming bottom of the leaderboard two weeks in a row.

She said on Sunday night’s show the judges had made the right decision but that her dance partner was “still king”.

“I know it has gone a bit quick, but you know what? I just feel so lucky to have had three weeks learning to dance with Anton and to have met all these amazing people.

“For me, they are the most important and I feel really privileged to have met them all, and it has been amazing.”

She added to the judges: “You’ve made the right choice, you guys, Lee and Nadiya were brilliant but Anton is still the king.”

Susannah and Anton earned only 24 points from the judges, managing a score of 12 in both weeks for their samba and foxtrot.

The foxtrot again failed to impress in the dance-off and Craig Revel Horwood said it was a “no-brainer” to send the pair home.

All the judges were in agreement over which couple should leave the show.

Bruno Tonioli said: “It’s obvious I have to save the overall better couple and, to my eyes, Lee and Nadiya were the winners.”

After the brief run on the series came to an end, Anton said: “It’s just all too brief, I have had the most fabulous time with Susannah, she is going to be a great loss to the show.

“Sadly someone’s got to go but I wish it wasn’t you because you’re wonderful to be with.

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“I’m going to miss spending time with you in the studio, we’ve had a great time, we’ve had enormous amounts of fun, and you’re wonderful and thank you very much indeed.”

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday October 6 at 6.30pm.  Susannah and Anton will appear on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two on Monday October 1.

Are you sad to see Susannah and Anton go? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!