Second couple eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing in ‘heartbreaking’ result

| Deputy Entertainment Editor Published October 11, 2026 8:00pm Updated October 11, 2026 8:19pm After both couples performed their routines again, the judges delivered their verdicts (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy) The second couple to leave Strictly Come Dancing has been revealed, ending their journey towards the Glitter Ball. Sadly it was Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters, 64, who became the second celebrity eliminated from the BBC competition, alongside pro dancer Aljaz Skorjanec, 36. After finishing in the bottom two on the first two weeks of the competition, the judges sent the pair home after a tense dance-off against former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips. On Saturday night’s episode, Melanie and Aljaž performed a Charleston to Ooh Ahh… Just A Little Bit by Gina G, receiving a score of 17 from the judges. Craig Revel Horwood remarked that he ‘didn’t love’ their dance, while Motsi Mabuse encouraged the actress to ‘keep going’. Get personalised updates on Strictly Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. On Sunday night’s results episode, they were sent into the dance-off against Shaun and his partner Alexis Warr – who had received a score of 15 for their quickstep to I’m A Believer by The Monkees. Melanie and Aljaž performed a Charleston to Ooh Ahh… Just A Little Bit by Gina G on Saturday night (Picture: PA Wire) After finishing in the bottom two on the first two weeks of the competition, the judges sent the pair home (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy) After both couples performed their routines again, the judges delivered their verdicts on who they wanted to save. While Motsi opted to save Melanie, fellow judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Revel Horwood all chose to save Shaun. ‘So so sad that Melanie and Aljaz are out!! Melanie wasn’t the best dancer, but she’s so lovely and her partnership with Aljaz made me smile so much. She’ll be so missed next week Viewers of the show were sad to see Melanie axed from the competition, with @sasha_ddm wrote: ‘So so sad that Melanie and Aljaz are out!! Melanie wasn’t the best dancer, but she’s so lovely and her partnership with Aljaz made me smile so much. She’ll be so missed next week.’ StrictlyOnSofa shared it was ‘so hard to lose couples this year’ and StuartOsmond vocalised his disappointment, believing ‘Melanie danced much better’ when it came down to it. Others remarked that this is the earliest Aljaž has left the competition, with @RyanSoapKing25 saying: ‘Heartbroken for the couple that have left.’ During the first week of the contest, the Welsh actress received a score of 15 for her cha cha cha, also being given the same score the following week while performing a waltz to Edelweiss from The Sound of Music during Movie Week. It comes just one week after celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, 43, and Amy Dowden, 36, were sent packing from the competition. Shaun and his partner Alexis received a score of 15 for their quickstep to I’m A Believer by The Monkees (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy) Melanie said her Gavin and Stacey co-stars have been ‘hugely supportive’ of her Strictly Come Dancing debut (Picture: Ray Burmiston/BBC/PA Wire) Sunday night’s episode also saw Shirley and Anton take to the floor as part of a special group performance, with two teams of professional dancers going head-to-head for glory in a ballroom vs Latin showdown. There was also a performance from musician Jalen Ngonda of his song Burning Temptation, accompanied by professional dancers Neil Jones and Lethabo Monametsi. The remaining 13 couples will take to the dancefloor next week for icons week. Deals of the Day Cold mornings are coming and this is the dressing gown I want to live in Most of us aren't getting enough fibre – this easy supplement could change that My honest review of the new UKLash Lash Lift Gel Kurt Geiger's new Notting Hill collection is a love letter to London's chaotic weather Dyson fans are swapping to this Hoover vacuum-mop that washes floors as it cleans Strictly Come Dancing returns at 6.15pm Saturday on BBC One. Arrow MORE: David Tennant: ‘Time season 3 made me consider the reality of the prison system’ Arrow MORE: Strictly Come Dancing’s Bethany Antonia’s trans ally T-shirt edited out of show by BBC Arrow MORE: Strictly’s Shirley Ballas’ scoring of rumoured dancer boyfriend ‘didn’t breach rules’ at competition TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.