Sixth couple eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing after dance off defeat

Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu have become the sixth couple to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing after being defeated in the dance off.

On Sunday’s results show, the couple reprised their foxtrot to Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis, which had scored them 30 on Saturday’s live show, putting them joint fourth in the leaderboard before public votes were taken into account.

They faced former Love Island contestant Cach Mercer and his partner Maddie Ingoldsby, who performed their waltz to That Ain’t You by Mulaa Joans, which scored 26 on Saturday, putting them joint bottom of the leaderboard on judge’s scores.

After both couples danced, judge Anton Du Beke chose to save Mercer and Ingoldsby, while fellow judges Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood voted to save Antonia and Xu, head judge Shirley Ballas had Sunday’s deciding vote and saved Mercer and Ingoldsby.

Antonia and Xu faced off against Maddie Ingoldsby and Cach Mercer (Guy Levy/BBC)

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It comes after Saturday’s show saw former Love Island winner Dani Dyer top the leaderboard with her partner Nikita Kuzmin, getting their first 10 as they scored 36 for their American smooth to It Had to Be You by Harry Connick Jr.

Sunday’s results show also commemorated Remembrance Sunday with a group performance from the Strictly professionals.

The dance, which was set to the Peter Gabriel arrangement of David Bowie’s Heroes, was choreographed by Lizzie Gough and opened with British soldiers leaving for war.

It was inspired by The Monument To The Women Of World War II, focusing on the lives of women during the conflict.

The results show also featured music from Gregory Porter, accompanied by a routine from professional dancers Alexis Warr and Aljaz Skorjanec.

Strictly will return on Saturday November 14, at 6.25pm, when the remaining couples will return to the dancefloor, with the results show airing on Sunday November 15, at 7.15pm.

It is hoped actress Jaime Winstone will return to the show next week, having missed Saturday’s live show through injury.

All episodes of the 2026 series so far are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.