Booted Strictly star claims show ‘is a game’ and says he was shocked over judges low scores amid fix row

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STRICTLY Come Dancing’s James Bye has revealed his shock over the judges’ low scores on Saturday night.

The EastEnders star said he had performed his best dance across the series so far with pro partner Amy Dowden.

James Bye opened up on his Strictly exit with Amy Dowden on It Takes Two

James and Amy left during Halloween week

And he compared the BBC competition to “playing a game” as he admitted he was gutted to get the boot.

He told host Rylan Clark on Strictly spin-off It Takes Two: “The judges didn’t see that the Charleston was one of our best dances.

“It’s a game. That is the way you have to play it. We did our best and I’m happy to have left the competition under those circumstances.”

Rylan replied: “Nobody wants to leave.”

Dressed as a beekeeper, James, 38, reprised his Charleston to Bumble Bee by LaVern Baker Amy, who was dressed as a bee, in a bid to impress the judges.

He later landed in the bottom two after receiving just 27 points from the panel.

Contestants are then ranked by a combination of judge and viewer votes, which have placed some of the best dancers in peril – and saved those who didn’t impress Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel-Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton DuBeke so much.

During the emotional interview with his pro partner Amy Dowden James said he felt he had no chance of being saved by the panel as he was up against singer and broadcaster Fleur East in the dreaded dance off.

He added to Rylan: “It was up there with one of the worst experiences of my life.

“She knows what she is doing, she is very good, and I love her to bits, it’s horrible competing with someone who I’ve got close with and I know is a lovely person, and I knew I was going to go!”

James – who is best known for playing Martin Fowler in EastEnders – then left Amy in tears with Rylan comforting the pair.

It comes as fans claimed the show is fixed to save more popular stars rather than the best dancers.

One wrote: “I can’t believe James was voted out and Tony Adams is still there. #fix #strictly”

Another posted: “I do feel sorry for James and Amy…they were given an awful song, weak choreography and poor costumes #Strictly”

A third said: “I think James was ill-served by the song and theme this week. The bumblebee thing is ridiculous and not at all Halloween and nobody knows the song. #strictly”


EastEnders James Bye breaks his silence after getting axed from Strictly,

It comes as Strictly fans claimed the resulst