Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec became the second couple to leave Strictly on Sunday night. 

The Gavin and Stacey star found herself fighting for survival in the dance-off after receiving a score of 17 on Saturday. 

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. 

But after both performing again it was Melanie who found herself hanging up her dancing shoes having failed to impress the judges with her charleston to Ooh Ahh… Just A Little Bit by Gina G.

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. 

Leaving the competition, Melanie looked to be fighting back tears as she said: ‘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.’ 

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

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

Aljaz told the star: ‘It is difficult to put into words, but if I was going to say something profound and beautiful it wasn’t going to be looking like this.’ 

He added: ‘Look, you are an ultimate professional at what you do and that’s why you are so successful in what you do and you showed me what hard work really is. 

‘We started every day with “Partner, let’s have the best day ever” so let’s finish this with a hug and thank you for every single bit in rehearsals and every single step on that floor. Thank you.’ 

They then took to the floor for the last time for a final twirl as Melanie wished her fellow contestants all the best for the rest of the competition.  

The couple will join Ellie Taylor on Strictly It Takes Two on Monday at 6.30pm. 

Next week the remaining 13 couples will take to the dancefloor for Icons Week as they hope to make it through another round of the competition. 

Meanwhile, during Saturday night’s show the judges clashed as Craig labelled head judge Shirley ‘a fun sponge’ for her ‘harsh’ critique.

Whilst Craig is notoriously the toughest judge on the BBC show, viewers pointed out that Shirley was dishing out more low scores and getting more boos from the live studio audience as the celebs took to the floor for a third time.

Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb and his partner Jowita Przystal’s rumba was singled out by Shirley, who is known as the ‘queen of rumba’.

The head judge moaned it was ‘not my cup of tea, flat-footed and too much standing around’, explaining she had awarded an extra point for ‘hitting one nice line’. 

Anton disagreed with Shirley’s criticisms and confirmed he ‘liked that style of rumba’, before Craig branded her a ‘fun sponge’ as he praised ‘talented’ Lawrence’s ‘great storytelling’.

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

Leaving the competition, Melanie looked to be fighting back tears as she said: ‘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’

Shaun and Alexis performed their Quickstep to I’m a Believer by The Monkees

Motsi then joked of the tension between Craig and Shirley: ‘I feel like a child having to help my parents through a divorce.’ 

Craig and Motsi both scored Lawrence five points, while Anton dished out six points and Shirley just four, giving Lawrence and Jowita a total of 20 points.

Strictly viewers accused Shirley of being too ‘harsh’ on Lawrence, with one fan writing on X: ‘Lawrence is getting my vote tonight because you cannot blame bad choreography on the celebrity #Strictly.’

‘Shirley could have been a bit gentler with Lawrence then, he’s just danced a rumba for the first time in front of millions of people,’ agreed another viewer posting on X.

‘What is up with Shirley tonight?! She has turned into Craig!’ said another.

Shirley was also accused of being harsh with her scoring when it came to the final dance of the night.

Olympian Tabby Stoecker and her partner Mark Karmalita danced the Argentine tango to Hate That I Made You Love Me by Ariana Grande. 

The pair certainly finished on a high as they commanded the dancefloor, with their performance leaving the audience on their feet.

The dance gave Motsi ‘goosebumps’ as she hailed them a ‘dark horse’. Anton meanwhile borrowed Craig’s words as he commented: ‘Love, love, love!’ 

Whilst Shirley noted that she ‘really enjoyed’ the ‘unbelievable’ dance, she decided to award the pair a seven, with viewers insisting the dance deserved more, especially after all of her fellow judges – including Craig – got out their eight paddles.

‘Shirley only giving Tabby a seven?????? WHATTTTTT?!’ asked one shocked viewer.

‘Tabby and Mark were incredible Imagine doing that in week three. UNDERMARKED !!!’ agreed another.

‘Shirley’s critique was more a matter of personal taste and about the choreography rather than the actual dance…’ pointed out one.  

STRICTLY COME DANCING 2026: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

LACEY TURNER 

AGE: 38

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Stacey Slater on BBC’s EastEnders 

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’m so excited and terrified at the same time but I’ve had so many friends do Strictly and I thought it was about time that I plunked up the courage and made my way onto that dance floor.’

DELTA GOODREM

AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Played Nina Tucker in Neighbours and has released eight music albums

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career – from tv, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world, there is however one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor!’

CACH MERCER

AGE: 25

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Won Love Island 2025 and is a TikTok influencer

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast. Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can’t wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!’

DAME SARAH STOREY

AGE: 48

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Britain’s most successful Paralympian 

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.’

BETHANY ANTONIA 

AGE: 28

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Plays Lady Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill.’

GRAEME ‘THE DOGFATHER’ HALL

AGE: 59

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Channel 5 series Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I have watched the show for years, so to be a part of it feels like a very exciting challenge, albeit more than a bit nerve-wracking!’

TABBY STOECKER 

AGE: 25

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Olympic champion skeleton racer

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’ve had the wildest year of my life so far, so to be rounding it off with a childhood dream of dancing in the Strictly ballroom is surreal and I can’t wait to get stuck in!’

MELANIE WALTERS 

AGE: 64

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Gwen West in BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘Performing in Pantomime for the last 15 years, my Strictly ‘fix’ has always been watching in a dressing room rather than my front room.’

DANI DYER

AGE: 30

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Winning Love Island and being the daughter of actor Danny Dyer

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one!’

CHRIS APPLETON

AGE: 43

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hairdresser to the stars – including Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience. I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new.’

WILL BEST

AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Big Brother and previously TV

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’ve been lucky to do lots of live telly before, but absolutely nothing like this. And I cannot wait!’

JAIME WINSTONE

AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Starring in films such as Kidulthood and Tomb Raider

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I am no stranger to a dance floor, but the ballroom is a whole new world for me.’

SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS 

AGE: 44

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Footballer who played for the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!’

LAWRENCE ROBB

AGE: 34

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Plays Mackenzie Boyd on ITV’s Emmerdale

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I can’t quite believe that I am going to be getting my dancing shoes on this September on one of my favourite shows of all time!’

JOHN NELLIS 

AGE: 33

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Face of a popular football-focused YouTube channel

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I can’t wait to meet everyone, learn a new skill and, hopefully, be much better at family parties by the end of it!’