Shirley Ballas vote eliminates Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu

Bethany Antonia and dance partner Nancy Xu were eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing after head judge Shirley Ballas cast the deciding vote to save Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby in the dance-off on November 8.

The judges were split over which couple to keep. Anton Du Beke voted for Mercer and Ingoldsby, while Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse chose Antonia and Xu. Ballas, the head judge, made the final decision in favour of Mercer and Ingoldsby, ending Antonia and Xu’s run in the competition.

For the dance-off, Antonia and Xu performed their Foxtrot to Leona Lewis’s Bleeding Love, while Mercer and Ingoldsby danced their Waltz to That Ain’t You by Mulaa Joans. Antonia and Xu were in the dance-off for the third time, according to the show’s results coverage.

After the result, Antonia told host Emma Willis that performing the routine and what it represented meant everything to her. She also thanked Xu for their partnership, saying she was grateful for what she had learned from her. Xu said Antonia had brought out a side of her she had not expected to see and that she would miss her.

Antonia later posted about their final rehearsal together, recalling that they danced the...