Shirley Ballas sparks Strictly sexism row after eliminating Annabel Croft
STRICTLY head judge Shirley Ballas reignited sexism claims by giving Annabel Croft the boot last night — denying her a place in the show’s final.
Shirley, 63, who has already been accused this series of marking down female contestants, used her casting vote to oust popular former tennis star Annabel in the results show.
It came after second favourite Annabel, 57, and professional partner Johannes Radebe, 36, danced off against EastEnders actor Bobby Brazier, 20, and Dianne Buswell, 34.
Fellow judges Motsi Mabuse, 42, and Anton Du Beke, 57, had voted to save Bobby, while hard-to-please Craig Revel Horwood, 58, had backed Annabel and Johannes.
Delivering her decision on last night’s show, which also featured a performance by Take That, Shirley said: “I thought both couples were absolutely extraordinary.
"I felt that both couples lifted their performance. I thought there was technical qualities on both sides, improvements galore.
Read More on Strictly
“But again one tiny mistake coming out of a pivot turn — and therefore my decision would be to save Bobby and Dianne.”
Craig said of the two performances: “One dance was flashy, one dance was quiet.
“I think both couples have equalised completely. I saw improvement in this one couple.
“Based on this dance, and nothing in the past but this dance alone, the person which I think had the most exquisite technique is Annabel and Johannes.”
In the early stages of the BBC1 show, Shirley gave the lowest scores out of all four judges to former newsreader Angela Rippon, 79, former Coronation Street star Ellie Leach, 22, and media personality Zara McDermott, 26.
Last year, she was criticised for saying she would have saved BBC TV and radio personality Richie Anderson, 36, when the other judges saved singer-songwriter Fleur East, 36.
A Strictly source previously said: “All of the judges are hugely experienced individuals who judge on dance and dance alone.
“Any conspiracy theories circulating via social media suggesting otherwise are simply untrue.”
Bobby will go on to compete in the final, which airs next Saturday at 7pm on BBC1.
Also in the final three are hot favourites Ellie and Vito Coppola, 31, alongside Bad Education star Layton Williams, 29, and Nikita Kuzmin, 25.
