Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec voted out of Strictly in week-three dance-off
Gavin and Stacey actor Melanie Walters and partner Aljaz Skorjanec became the second couple eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2026, losing a dance-off to Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Gavin and Stacey actor Melanie Walters, 64, and her professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec became the second couple to leave Strictly Come Dancing 2026 on Sunday 11 October. The IndependentLC “Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec are the second couple to leave Strictly Come Dancing 2026.” Read at The Independent ↗ Evening StandardN “Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters has exited Strictly Come Dancing to become the second celebrity contestant to leave the latest series.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2They landed in the dance-off against former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and his partner Alexis Warr; Walters and Skorjanec had scored 17 for a Charleston to Gina G's "Ooh Ahh... Just A Little Bit", while Wright-Phillips and Warr finished bottom of the leaderboard with 15 for a quickstep to The Monkees' "I'm a Believer". Daily MailR “Joining her at risk were former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and his partner Alexis Warr, who had finished last on the leaderboard with 15 points.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The IndependentLC “putting them second to last on the leaderboard.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2After both couples danced again, Motsi Mabuse was the only judge to save Walters; Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke chose Wright-Phillips and Warr. Daily MailR “Receiving one vote from Motsi Mabuse, the other three judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke chose to save Shaun and Alexis.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Evening StandardN “While Mabuse opted to save Walters, fellow judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Revel Horwood all chose to save Wright-Phillips and Warr.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Mixed · 2The Independent and Daily Express describe Du Beke's vote as the deciding one, noting that the deciding vote now rotates between all four judges rather than always going to head judge Ballas. The IndependentLC “Since last year, the deciding vote has been rotated between all four judges, rather than being placed in the hands of head judge Ballas each week.” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily ExpressR “as did Anton du Beke, who held the decisive vote this weekend.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Right · 2Walters said she had thought she would be out the previous week and so had "an extra week with this wonderful soul"; Skorjanec thanked her for showing him "what hard work really is". Daily MailR “'Well to tell you the truth, I thought I was going to be out last week so I have had an extra week with this wonderful soul.'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Daily ExpressR “"You showed me what hard work really is and what hard work really means.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Centre · 1Walters had also been in the bottom two in each of the first two weeks, after scoring 15 for both a cha cha cha and a waltz; hairstylist Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden were eliminated the week before. Evening StandardN “Having landed in the bottom two across the first two weeks of the competition, the couple were ultimately sent home.”“Walters is the second celebrity to exit this series after celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and professional partner Amy Dowden were eliminated last week.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Mixed · 2The couple will appear on It Takes Two on Monday, and the remaining 13 couples dance next Saturday in Icons Week. Evening StandardN “The eliminated couple will appear on It Takes Two on Monday.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily ExpressR “The remaining 13 couples will return to the dance floor once more next Saturday (October 17) for Icons Week” Read at Daily Express ↗ Mixed · 2Elsewhere in the results show, Ballas and Du Beke took part in a Latin versus Ballroom showdown by the professional dancers, and Jalen Ngonda performed "Burning Temptation". The IndependentLC “Ballas headed up Team Latin while Du Beke was firmly Team Ballroom as the two styles went head to head in a showdown.” Read at The Independent ↗ Evening StandardN “There was also a musical performance from singer Jalen Ngonda with his song Burning Temptation” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington topped Saturday's leaderboard with 33 for a salsa, and the Express reported that Goodrem was moved to tears by a video message from her family in Australia. Evening StandardN “Australian singer Delta Goodrem had topped the leaderboard on Saturday with professional partner Kai Widdrington after their salsa earned 33 points.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily ExpressR “Strictly Come Dancing star Delta Goodrem was moved to tears during Sunday's results show after receiving a video message from her family in Australia.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Right · 1The Daily Mail also reported on Saturday's judging row, in which Revel Horwood called Ballas "a fun sponge" over her harsh critique of Lawrence Robb's rumba, and viewers on X accused her of under-marking Tabby Stoecker. Daily MailR “Craig labelled head judge Shirley 'a fun sponge' for her 'harsh' critique.”“'Shirley only giving Tabby a seven?????? WHATTTTTT?!' asked one shocked viewer.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Independent gives a straightforward results report that stresses the mechanics of the dance-off and the rotating deciding vote.
- Emphasis
- Judges' votes, the rule change on the deciding vote, 13 couples remaining.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little on Walters' reaction or on the judging controversy from Saturday.
- Charged language
- “unenviable fate”
- For example
-
“The public vote didn’t save them from the unenviable fate of performing their routines a second time for the judges” — The Independent
Centre3 outlets
- Framing
- The Evening Standard runs a factual elimination report with a full leaderboard and a career profile of Walters.
- Emphasis
- Scores, leaderboard, Walters' past roles, dance-off votes.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No viewer reaction; does not mention the deciding-vote mechanism.
- For example
-
“The 64-year-old – best known for playing omelette-making Gwen in the aforementioned BBC television show set in Essex and Wales” — Evening Standard
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- The Daily Mail and Daily Express add viewer reaction, emotional moments and judging rows to the elimination story.
- Emphasis
- Walters' and Skorjanec's farewell words, social-media reaction, the Ballas-Horwood clash, Goodrem's tears.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The Mail does not mention the deciding vote; neither explains the rotation rule.
- Charged language
- “fails to impress the judges”“fun sponge”“dreaded dance-off”“laughable”
- For example
-
“Charleston fails to impress the judges” — Daily Mail
“Another commented: "Melanie over Shaun is laughable"” — Daily Express
What every side reports
- Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec were the second couple eliminated from Strictly 2026.
- They lost the dance-off to Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr.
- Motsi Mabuse was the only judge to save Walters.
- 13 couples remain and Icons Week is next.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Anton Du Beke's vote was the deciding one
- Left
- The Independent says Du Beke used the deciding vote after a 2-2 split.
- Centre
- The Evening Standard lists Du Beke among three judges saving Wright-Phillips, without mentioning a deciding vote.
- Right
- The Express says Du Beke held the decisive vote; the Mail lists a 3-1 split without mentioning it.
-
Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec were eliminated after losing the dance-off to Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr.
Supported- Supports 4
- The Independent, Evening Standard, Daily Express, Daily Mail
-
Motsi Mabuse was the only judge to vote to save Walters and Skorjanec.
Reported- Reports 4
- The Independent, Evening Standard, Daily Express, Daily Mail
Left1 article
-
Second celebrity eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing
Neutral Independent report focused on the vote breakdown and the rotating deciding vote.
Centre4 articles
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Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters becomes second celebrity to exit Strictly Come Dancing
Neutral Evening Standard report with scores, full leaderboard and Walters' career background.
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-
Right3 articles
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Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Second eliminated star confirmed
Neutral Daily Express account of the dance-off with farewell quotes and X reactions.
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Mixed Long Daily Mail report blending the elimination with Saturday's judging row and viewer complaints.
- 11 Oct 19:56 First Daily ExpressR Strictly results show turns emotional as Delta Goodrem chokes back tears
- 11 Oct 20:00 +4m Evening StandardN Second couple sent home from Strictly after low leaderboard finish
- 11 Oct 20:00 +4m Evening StandardN Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters becomes second celebrity to exit Strictly Come Dancing
- 11 Oct 20:00 +4m Radio TimesN Who left Strictly 2026? Second celebrity to be voted out revealed
- 11 Oct 20:00 +5m The IndependentLC Second celebrity eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing
- 11 Oct 20:10 +14m Daily ExpressR Who left Strictly Come Dancing? Second eliminated star confirmed
- 11 Oct 20:11 +15m Daily MailR Strictly 2026 results: Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec are the second couple to be voted out after their Charleston fails to impress the judges
- 11 Oct 20:20 +24m Digital SpyN Strictly sends home second star: "You showed me what hard work really means"
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.