Strictly's Tom facing backlash over phone vote fiasco

Wed Dec 17 01:13PM by TV Editor

Strictly Come Dancing's Tom Chambers

Holby City star Tom Chambers is facing an angry backlash from some Strictly Come Dancing viewers who believe he should not be in Saturday night's final.

The actor was given a pass through to the final after the BBC abandoned the phone vote last weekend.

All three couples were allowed through when it became clear that viewers voting for Tom would be unable to save him from the dance-off, due to the tie between Lisa and Rachel at the top of the leaderboard.

Originally votes from last weekend were to be carried over to the final but they now won't be counted and the BBC are offering a refund to anyone who voted.

However, many fans of the series are unhappy that Tom will feature in the final and some are calling for him to do the honorable thing and step down, reports the Daily Mirror.

A show insider told the paper: "Things have turned sour for Tom since Saturday. He and Camilla wanted to get through properly, not be given a free ride. They feel they could have won a dance-off.

"Camilla is really upset and has been crying. She doesn't want anyone to think they have cheated in any way."

Do you think Tom deserves his place in the final? Let us know what you think...

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User comments

  • (3001)

    Like the Weakest Link "It's the Vote that count" in Strictly too. So let the BBC be transparent about the criteria and inform the viewers accordingly. Then viewers who await the outcome of talent and guts will be prepared for the fiasco of the Finals as it happened on saturday.

    Posted by: mabelleariyaratnam on Mon Dec 22 03:40PM | Report abuse
  • (3002)

    The BBC has originally arranged for three finalists. When John Sargant walked out he created a problem that could be solved by not knocking out one person in the semi final. Why didn't they say so instead of causing this contoversy. Like Arlene I fancied Austin and always thoght it would be a two man fkinale I fancied Austin

    Posted by: delhurst on Mon Dec 22 03:43PM | Report abuse
  • (3003)

    Absolutely should have won, the other contestants became too SMUG thought they had it in the bag.

    Posted by: earle.patricia on Mon Dec 22 03:46PM | Report abuse
  • (3004)

    The public have voted ...end of story !!!!!!!!!

    Posted by: firebladeroy2000 on Mon Dec 22 03:49PM | Report abuse
  • (3005)

    Tom should have gone last week

    Posted by: wendy.marshall10 on Mon Dec 22 03:52PM | Report abuse
  • (3006)

    what a fiasco Tom should have gone last week and Rachel and Lisa should have been in the final unless the rules for voting are not changed I think a lot of people will not bother to watch next time.I say let the judges be the judges and no phone votes Maureen Creek Mon 22nd dec

    Posted by: creek9bx on Mon Dec 22 03:53PM | Report abuse
  • (3007)

    Tom had the Viewers vote and deserved to win. It must have been difficult for him to lead Camilla. Brendan and Vincent are professionals!

    Posted by: keithw.robinson46 on Mon Dec 22 03:55PM | Report abuse
  • (3008)

    What you (mostly 'English') people need to understand is none of these phone in competitions have anything to do with actual 'skill' or talent-related technique. They are nothing more than a 'POPULARITY' contest. Let's face it, how many of you out there who voted are actual dance experts? I'm certainly not. If it was about perfection and skill, Rachel would have won. But it's not. It's simply a current-age way of getting confirmed ratings by offering real-time interactivity with an audience. The most POPULAR or most LIKE-ABLE gets the votes. That ugly fat old man 'Sargeant' proved that with his fiasco. Look at X Factor also. It does actually in fact start as a 'Talent' contest. The judging panel are in the seat there. But it ENDS as a Popularity contest - no question. Having said that, I have to agree that this year the public got it right. But that's due to the combination of Alex's actual true talent WITH her popularity. If she was talented but not like-able the public voters would have torpedoed her as they did the immensely talented Spanish girl.

    Posted by: johnvalente on Mon Dec 22 04:01PM | Report abuse
  • (3009)

    Of course he does. Those silly competitive girls who didn't win are taking it too seriously..

    Posted by: derekhutchinson on Mon Dec 22 04:06PM | Report abuse
  • (3010)

    I feel Tom and his partener should have bowled out gracefully, especially after the the result of the previous weeks vote, but no instead of playing the honest doc, just like the pompus prat that he is, he let his BBC buddies give him a second chance, "The whole thing was just one big fix"; Shame as it has now spoilt the reputation of a good show.

    Posted by: horus.1 on Mon Dec 22 04:12PM | Report abuse