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'Not funny anymore': Strictly viewers outraged after Ed Balls survives another week

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Ainhoa Barcelona
Content Managing Editor
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Strictly Come Dancing fans were left upset after Ed Balls managed to survive another week in the competition – despite almost dropping his dance partner during a lift.

The Labour politician has sailed through to next week's show and didn't appear in Sunday night's dance-off.

Instead Lesley Joseph and her professional partner Anton du Beke were voted out, after competing against model Daisy Lowe and Aljaž Škorjanec.

ed balls1© Photo: BBC

Ed Balls almost dropped his partner Katya Jones in last week's Strictly

Stacey Solomon tweeted a message to Lesley, writing: "U r an absolute inspiration. I hope I'm 1/2 the women u r when I'm 70 you're phenomenal & didn't deserve to go."

Another dismayed fan wrote: "Pls stop voting for Ed Balls! When u see how sad Lesley was to leave it's not funny anymore #Strictly."

Lord Sugar commented on the results, saying: "How the hell can Ed Balls still be voted in by the public."

His aide Claude Littner agreed, writing: "First Brexit... now Ed Balls remains in Strictly Come Dancing! Further proof, the great British public cannot be trusted with big decisions!"

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"That Balls thing needs to come to an end soon it's getting tiring now..." commented TV presenter Amanda Lamb.

Former X Factor contestant Katie Waissel joked: "If you suspect anyone of voting for Ed Balls, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 #Strictly."

However not all viewers agreed and showed their support for the 49-year-old politician.

"I think someone trying so very, very hard is slightly inspiring #EdBalls #Strictly," tweeted one fan, while another posted: "Finally catching up on last Saturday's #Strictly Ed Balls is such fun."

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View post on Twitter

The results show was the most-watched programme on TV on Sunday, pulling in an average of 9.7m viewers and reaching a peak of 10.6m.

Anton and Lesley performed their Tango to Whatever Lola Wants by Gotan Project, however their efforts were simply not enough.

Tweeting that he and Lesley were both "incredibly disappointed", Anton went on to praise the Birds of a Feather star, writing: "Lesley is an incredible dancer & a wonderful person. For anyone to be working 12+ hr days would be tough but at her age? She is a phenom!"