Strictly 2026: Sixth couple voted off as show marks Remembrance Sunday

A foxtrot dance-off was not enough to save an actor and her partner from being the sixth couple to be eliminated from this year’s Strictly Come Dancing series.

Actress Bethany Antonia and professional dance partner Nancy Xu were eliminated on Sunday, despite coming joint fourth on the leaderboard on Saturday’s show.

On Sunday’s results episode, the couple reprised their foxtrot to Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis, which had scored them 30 on Saturday’s live show.

It put them joint fourth with Lacey and Vito before public votes were taken into account.

Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu became the latest couple to be voted off the BBC dance competition

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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.

They had scored 26 on Saturday, dropping them to 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.

Ballas voted to save Mercer and Ingoldsby, sealing celebrity Antonia – known for playing Lady Baela Targaryen in Game of Thrones spin-off series House of the Dragon – and dancer Xu’s fate.

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.

Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu were embraced after the result was revealed

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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.