Strictly Come Dancing viewers were left uneasy on Monday evening when freshly eliminated contestant Vicky Pattison and her professional partner Kai Widdrington failed to appear on the spin-off show It Takes Two.
Vicky, 38, became the seventh celebrity to leave the competition after losing the tense dance-off to EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, 46, and Julian Caillon, 30. Traditionally, the eliminated pair show up on It Takes Two the following Monday to reflect on their journey — but this time, host Fleur East surprised fans by announcing Vicky and Kai wouldn’t be joining as usual.
Fleur told viewers that “Vicky and Kai can’t be with us tonight but will be joining us later in the week,” prompting immediate concern on social media. Fans rushed to X asking: “No Vicky & Kai tonight — hope things are okay?”, “Where are they?”, and “It’s unusual not to have the departed couple on a Monday.”
A representative for Vicky later confirmed she would appear on the Wednesday episode.
The absence came just after Vicky celebrated her birthday with friends at an upscale bash, sharing clips from the night before. Her exit had already stirred controversy after the results leaked online while cameras were still rolling, fuelling frustration among fans who called it “the most shocking elimination yet.”
In her emotional farewell, Vicky told Tess Daly that she “knew this week was a difficult one” and said she “tried my hardest as I have every week.” She added that she “didn’t think I’d get past week one,” before thanking Kai for being “the best partner a girl can ask for.” She also said she felt she had “won just by having him as my partner.”
Kai was equally heartfelt, telling her she was “everything this series is about — strong, confident, independent,” and admitted he was “gutted not coming to Blackpool” with her. He insisted Vicky “will live on in Strictly history forever.”
But backstage, tensions rose as the leaked spoiler spread online, with fans insisting the judges had made the wrong call. Many were stunned, claiming the eliminated celebrity “should have been in the final” and that “this is insane — the most shocking elimination yet.”
The debate only intensified after the dance-off, with Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood all choosing to save Balvinder. Viewers voiced disbelief, calling it “totally the wrong decision” and admitting they were “devastated” by the outcome.
