Eliminates sixth star in intense dance-off
The Tense Elimination of Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
The excitement surrounding Strictly Come Dancing 2025 has reached a fever pitch, with the sixth elimination proving to be one of the most dramatic moments in the series. For Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, his journey towards the Glitter Ball came to an abrupt end.
In what was arguably the most intense bottom two showdown of the season, Harry and his professional partner Karen Hauer faced off against Drag Race icon La Voix and her partner Aljaž Škorjanec. The competition was incredibly close, with both couples scoring just one point apart on the leaderboard. Harry and Karen scored 30 points, while La Voix and Aljaž landed at 29, setting the stage for a nail-biting dance-off.
During the dance-off, both couples performed their routines again for the judges. La Voix and Aljaž delivered a foxtrot to "Make Your Own Kind of Music" by Cass Elliot, while Harry and Karen showcased their samba to "Samba" by Gloria Estefan. After both performances, the judges made their decision, and it was clear that La Voix and Aljaž would be staying in the competition.
Judges' Decision Sparks Outrage
Head Judge Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood all chose to save La Voix and Aljaž. Motsi Mabuse, who had the casting vote this week, also indicated she would have supported the same decision if required. This unanimous verdict left many fans stunned and vocal about their disappointment.
Social media was flooded with reactions from viewers who felt the decision was unfair. One user, @GrantTheHatter, wrote: “Outrageous decision #strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.” Another, @mr_chambers_, commented: “Harry blew him [La Voix] off the stage. What a fix!!!!…” Meanwhile, @huggingtrees expressed confusion: “How didn’t Harry go through. He literally was marked higher than La Voix. He was better.”
Despite the backlash, some fans believed the decision was justified. @RyanSoapKing25 wrote: “The correct result – I’m sad for the person who left but I feel that there time on the show was up when you consider the standard of the competition at this stage.”
Emotional Farewell from Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
Reflecting on his time on the show, Harry told host Tess Daly: “I think, first things, I just want to thank Karen. Genuinely, you have given me an opportunity to shine. You’ve understood my crazy brain.” He added to his partner, Strictly’s longest-serving professional: “I’m such a logical person, trying to dance—and obviously doing what I do—Olympic sprinter, Gladiator—now I’m trying to be a dancer.”
“I just want to thank you so much for the time and effort, the hard work that you’ve given to me,” he continued. “You show up, you turn out.” The Olympian then spoke about his experience: “I want to thank everyone here. Literally, this has been a dream come true. This is a celebration. It’s a celebration.”
A Tough Week and a Personal Reflection
Following a challenging previous week, where Harry and Karen fell to the bottom of the scoreboard with 26 points for their American smooth, the father of five-year-old Aubreé-Isla shared his emotional journey. “I spoke to my daughter, and she didn’t like seeing her dad sad, and when she saw me sad last week, she was like, ‘Daddy, what’s wrong?’” he said.
He added: “And I wanted to show everyone that, no matter what happens, there’s always a silver lining. But this is an experience for me. So, thank you for this lovely gift, and at the end of the day, we carry on, we give it to them, and we continue to shine. Do you know what I mean?”
Karen, when asked by Tess how proud she was of Harry, replied: “I am extremely proud. We’ve had the best time. You’re such a gentleman, you’re a hard worker, you listen, and you get into those times where I don’t know what you were thinking, but you know what? I loved you in every kind of way because of the person that you are, and it was an honour to teach you, so thank you so much.”
Other Highlights from the Results Show
While the elimination dominated the headlines, the results show featured other exciting moments. James Morrison performed his tune “Fight Another Day,” accompanied by a routine from Jowita Przystał and Neil Jones. Additionally, the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment joined the Strictly professionals for a group number to mark Remembrance Sunday, set to Sam Fender’s “Remember My Name.”
As the competition tightens, the remaining eight couples will return next weekend, hoping to make it to the iconic Blackpool week on November 20. Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 6:25pm on Saturday, 15 November, with the results show on Sunday, 16 November, at 7:15pm.
