Top 5 Strictly Contestants Who Were Eliminated Too Soon & 5 Who Overstayed Their Welcome

Season 19 No one wants to be the first to go, but that’s the nature of almost any competition. Still, we can think of a few contestants who deserved a swifter exit than this comic actress. In week one, she scored a solid 24 for her samba—a notoriously tough Latin dance. But her week two tango fell flat, landing her at the bottom of the leaderboard, in the dance-off, and ultimately out of the show. Many were shocked when the judges chose to save “Corrie’s” Katie McGlynn over her. Wadia later shared that her mental health took a hit, but she found comfort in fans reaching out, saying she’d been robbed.

Season 7 If you’d asked us who’d win season 7 of “Strictly,” we’d probably have put our money on Ali Bastian or perhaps even Ricky Whittle. We certainly wouldn’t have bet on Chris Hollins, who spent most of the weeks in the middle of the leaderboard. His Charleston remains one of the series’ most memorable routines, but one standout dance didn’t seem like it would be enough to push him to the forefront. We were stunned when Bastian didn’t make the finals, though not nearly as much as when Hollins took the trophy. Then again, the British public does tend to have a soft spot for an underdog!

Season 14 Season 14 felt like one of those years when half the contestants could’ve easily won if they’d all competed in different seasons. We’ll never understand why the judges let Melvin Odoom go so early—luckily, he got a chance to prove himself in the 2016 Christmas special! Laura Whitmore showed huge improvement each week, so when she and Tameka landed in the bottom two in week three, we definitely didn’t envy the judges. It was clear that Tameka had so much more to give and hadn’t yet reached her peak. Maybe it was the theme? Maybe “Strictly” viewers just aren’t “Beverly Hills Cop” fans? Still, her exit sparked discussions on whether race affected the voting.

Season 14 Without Ed Balls, we may never have seen what a mashup of a salsa and “Gangnam Style” looked like, and for that, we will be forever grateful. Balls was never the lightest on his feet or the best-scoring celeb. However, he had a secret weapon: a partner who threw in everything, including the kitchen sink (and often herself), to make sure that, even if her partner couldn’t tell his sashay from his sidestep, the audience was thoroughly entertained. So, even though Balls found himself at the bottom end of the leaderboard practically every week, he somehow avoided the dance-off until week 10. Still, it was time for him to Tan-go long before that.

Season 6 The rugby player faced some seriously tough competition as the season headed into the finals, especially with the likes of eventual winner Tom Chambers and runner-up Rachel Stevens. Healey started strong, topping the leaderboard in week one and staying up the top end for most weeks. In the Quarterfinals, he and Erin Boag scored an impressive 36 for their salsa (which included a ten!) and a 34 for their American Smooth—scores that could’ve topped the leaderboard any other night. But with just four couples left, they found themselves in the danger zone. When it came down to Healey and Erin or Lisa Snowdon and Brendan Cole, the judges went with the latter.

Season 12 Judy Murray seems like a lovely person who truly enjoyed every moment of her “Strictly” journey. But let's be honest: most weeks, she moved like she had a tennis racket strapped to her back that she forgot to take off! She and her partner, Anton Du Beke, were usually at the bottom of the leaderboard but somehow avoided the dance-off until Blackpool in week eight. In a surprising twist, however, that’s exactly when she had her moment with a beautiful “Mary Poppins”-inspired Viennese Waltz. It was her highest-scoring dance, although still bottom of the leaderboard. Just as she seemed to find her rhythm, she was eliminated. Talk about going out on a high!

Season 17 As of writing, “Strictly” pro Dianne Buswell has reached the finals twice. But looking at some of her former partners, it’s surprising she hasn’t been there more often. She and Tyler West were steadily climbing the leaderboard, but perhaps her most shocking elimination came with radio presenter Dev Griffin, who was the third to go in his season. Dev was a strong scorer, and his Movie Week couple’s choice dance was unforgettable! But a week four cha-cha-cha saw them slip down the leaderboard, and unfortunately, they no longer had a friend in the voters. Dianne was especially devastated, and who could blame her? It was far too soon for them to leave.

Season 8 If you ever needed proof that “Strictly” is an entertainment show rather than a serious dance contest, we’d say just look at this season. Anton often had his work cut out with his partners, and nowadays, he jokes about how he’d try to choreograph to their strengths—or, in other words, keep the dancing to a minimum! Maybe audiences loved how Widdecombe threw herself into the experience, or perhaps her critics enjoyed watching her make a fool of herself each week. Whatever it was, it carried her all the way to week 10! Widdecombe’s legacy on the show became infamous, leaving us with a few moments that still live rent-free in our heads. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions.

We Know She’s from “Corrie,” but Her Week 4 Elimination Should Have Been Accompanied by the “EastEnders” Drums

The Former Bond Girl Should Have Had Her License to Thrill Revoked Much Sooner

He Had So Much Potential Too! Such a Shame!

Well, at Least She Left Gracefully When Her Time Finally Came…

Season 15 The British public has a love-hate relationship with contestants who have a dance background. Yet, they usually get much closer to the finals than the JLS star did! When Chizzy Akudolu was the first to be booted, we should’ve known anything was possible (and yes, we’re still fuming about that!). Aston and his partner, Janette Manrara, consistently scored high, with their “Trolls”-themed cha-cha-cha being an unforgettable highlight. However, in week seven, their Viennese Waltz dropped them down the leaderboard, earning only a four from Craig. Aston ended up in the dance-off, and if you thought the judges wouldn’t save Mollie King over him, you were in for a rude awakening!

Season Six Even Sergeant knew he’d overstayed his welcome when he decided to drop out of the competition. Look, we get it: this is an entertainment show, and few celebs ticked that box quite like Sergeant! But let’s be honest—much more talented dancers were being booted week after week while Sergeant heavy-footedly plodded along (often, literally). Still, he was fun to watch! And for many “Strictly” viewers, that’s all they’re looking for! Eventually, Sergeant decided that the fun had gone on long enough and chose to quit so he wouldn’t rob someone more deserving of the glitterball. It says a lot when the celeb is the first to admit they’ve overstayed their time on the show. Which celebrity were you gutted to see leave before their time, and who do you think spent too long on borrowed time? Let us know in the comments