Healey comments on 'Strictly' mix-up

BBC

Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Austin Healey has criticised the BBC for failing to inform viewers that Tom Chambers could not be saved in last weekend's semi-final.

The retired rugby player, who was the twelfth person to leave the show, claimed that those watching should have been made aware that attempting to keep Chambers out of the dance-off was futile. BBC bosses instead opened the phonelines and allowed people to vote for the actor.

"I think it was an oversight on behalf of the Beeb. What they failed to realise was that it wasn't a fair vote and maybe they should have pointed that out from the start, that it was impossible to save Tom," he said.

Healey added that he believes the decision to put all three pairs through to the final was the right one.

"They only had two choices in the end, either put all three through or three in the dance-off and that isn't fair," he said.

Chambers and dance partner Camilla Dallerup will compete against Rachel Stevens and Vincent Simone, and Lisa Snowdon and Brendan Cole in Saturday's final.