Chris Robshaw has become the third celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing, after La Voix managed to escape the latest dance off.
EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal joined the 39-year-old retired rugby player in the bottom two on Sunday, 19 October. The judges were split over who to save, and Craig Revel Horwood had the casting vote and chose soap star Sopal.
But La Voix was not in the dance off, despite being placed bottom of the leaderboard after they achieved a score of just 14 out of 40.
The 45-year-old drag queen – whose real name is Christopher Dennis – looked hugely shocked when they were the fifth couple revealed to be safe from elimination in Week Four. La Voix confessed they were “speechless” and “did not expect to be here.”
Dance off dodgers
La Voix proved to be a favourite with Strictly Come Dancing viewers after dodging the dance off. (BBC)
La Voix and professional partner Aljaz Skorcjanec received poor scores from the judges for their Cha cha cha to Hit Me With Your Best Shot. Proving they are popular with viewers, the pair received enough votes to save them from taking part in the dance off.
The Ru Paul’s Drag Race star said: “I am absolutely speechless. I did not expect to be sat here with these amazing people that dance tonight.
“I wouldn’t have voted for that. That was beyond terrible. I was going to be in a dance off in my head. I wouldn’t have got it right a second time because I was so worried about it. I’m thrilled to be here. Thank you so much.”
La Voix goes through to Icons Week and revealed they will be Cher. La Voix said: “I was going to be Shirley Ballas, but after a [score of] two! I’m going to be doing, brace yourselves – I love you, Shirley – I’m gonna be doing Cher!”
Revel Horwood has casting vote
Chris Robshaw faced Balvinder Solpal in the Week Four Strictly dance off. (BBC)
Robshaw and professional partner Nadiya Bychkova scored just 24 out of 40 for their Salsa to Rocky Martin’s Maria, while Sopal and new professional dancer Julian Caillon were awarded 28 points by the judges for their Paso double on Saturday night.
They received the lowest score combined with the public vote and faced each other in the dance off.
Craig Revel Horwood was the judge with the deciding vote this week. Asked if he felt under pressure he told host Tess Daly: “No darling! I am very confident I shall make the right choice, if it arises.”
Motsi Mabuse chose to save Sopal and Caillon. She told them: “First of all, I have to say, my heart is broken for both of you, because I really don’t think you deserve to be in the dance off. Both of you have been working so hard and you’ve developed so much, and you’ve shown so much talent and love for the show. For me, it’s just two different levels and two different types of dancing. And, I decided to save Balvinda and Julian.”
Head Judge Shirley Ballas chose Robshaw and Bychkova. She explained: “Both couples danced extremely well. Technically, I think they were about on the same level, both couples. But one couple had a little bit more degree of difficulty, and, just gave a little bit of a stronger performance. So I chose to save Chris and Nadiya.”
Anton Du Beke also saved Robshaw and Bychkova, saying: “Well, two very different dances, but requiring the same amount of positivity and sure-footedness. And I thought they both danced reasonable one dance, one couple danced with stronger execution. And for that, I’d like to save Chris and Nadiya.”
But Revel Horwood had the casting vote, and sealed Robshaw’s fate. He said: “Well, Chris did fantastic lifts, but the Salsa, I’ve got to say, was quite poor, there wasn’t much of it at all. There was absolutely no hips or anything like that, and I would like to have seen just a forward and back basic. Balvinder made mistakes, So that wasn’t great. So my quandary is, do I choose someone that is gonna be splashy and full of tricks, or do I go for quality and technical ability? So I think I would like to go for quality and technical ability and that couple is Balvinder and Julian.”
What did viewers say?
Craig Revel Horwood had the casting vote in this week’s judging panel. (BBC)
Viewers were relieved that Head Judge Ballas had not had the casting vote, as many agreed Sopal deserved to be saved.
One wrote on social media platform X: “Thank goodness Craig had the deciding vote this week! Balvinder did far more actual dancing and deserved to go through #Strictly”
While another posted on Blue Sky: “Craig surprisingly is the judge that speaks sense #Strictly”
One tweeted: “Well done Craig for giving clear reasons why Balvinder should be saved #Strictly”
Another viewer said: “Thank goodness they took the power away from Shirley. Craig should probably have been head judge years ago #Strictly”
And one Strictly fan shared: “If there was EVER a night for Craig to get the head judge role. TONIGHT was it. We cannot put Balvinder in this position again #Strictly”
Read moreRobshaw bows out
Chris Robshaw said goodbye to Strictly pro Nadiya Bychkova. (BBC)
Robshaw and Bychkova have stayed close to the bottom of the leaderboard since the competition began, four weeks ago, and faced Thomas Skinner in the very first dance off.
The former England player told Daly: “I’ve loved it. I’ve had an amazing partner, but for me coming onto this journey, I find no confidence to be told I had world class qualities on the dance floor, even though we’re going home, that is amazing to hear, so thank you very much for giving me such confidence.
“I’m sorry, but this is, it’s been an amazing journey. She’s been a brilliant teacher. I’ve developed so much and it’s been a, yeah, great ride, so thank you.”
Bychkova told Robshaw: “Well, Chris, I had a few wonderful weeks with you and I saw all the qualities while you were the captain of your country, just to watch you from a non-dancer, non-performer, blossom and improve and develop. And on Friday night when we were here rehearsing, you told me that you can’t wait to perform on Saturday and that’s the best confirmation that You got that feeling, you got that love for dance, and it means the world. And I know sometimes on this show you win by getting a Glitterball, but this year I feel that I won’t just get to you as my partner. So thank you so much.”
Robshaw played professional rugby for 17 years and received 66 caps playing for the England rugby union team between 2009 and 2018. He is married to classical singer Camilla Kerslake, with whom he has two young children. He retired from rugby in 2022 and has since confessed that he struggled with the impact that stepping away from his sporting career had had in his mental health.
Last year he was forced to quit Channel 4 survival show Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins for medical reasons. He dislocated his shoulder fighting Love Island contestant Ovie Soko.
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 continues with Icons Week on BBC One at 6.20pm on Sunday, 25 October.