Strictly Come Dancing has felt the wrath of TV presenter Lorraine Kelly following Ross King’s exit from the show.

The next morning, Lorraine addressed the controversy head-on during her ITV show. Sitting on her trademark pink sofa, she didn’t mince words. “Honestly, I’m fuming,” she told viewers. “Ross worked so hard. You could see how much he was improving every week. To lose him now, when there were weaker performances that got higher scores—it just doesn’t make sense. I think the judges got it badly wrong.” She also added, with a wry smile, “I might not be invited to Strictly anytime soon after saying this, but I don’t care—it’s outrageous!”

Sources close to the production say that Lorraine’s comments caused a stir backstage. An insider told The Sun: “Lorraine’s always been supportive of Ross, but the way she went off after the show shocked a few people. The producers love her, but they weren’t expecting that kind of backlash. Still, it’s Lorraine—she says what everyone else is thinking.” Indeed, Lorraine’s outburst seemed to echo the sentiment of many fans who felt the judging had been inconsistent throughout the season.

Ross himself handled the elimination with trademark grace, appearing on It Takes Two to thank viewers for their support. “I’ve had the time of my life,” he said with a grin. “Dianne has been amazing, and I can’t thank everyone enough for keeping us in this long. I’ll miss the glitter, the fake tan, and maybe even Craig’s eyebrow raises!” But behind the good humour, fans sensed disappointment. Dianne Buswell, his dance partner, admitted she was “gutted,” saying, “Ross gave everything in rehearsals. He’s the definition of hard work and heart.”

Lorraine was interviewing her co-star and friend Ross after his elimination from Strictly when she shared her fury at the line-up.

The 65-year-old Scottish broadcaster accused the show several times of having “too many trained dancers” among the celebrity cast.
Lorraine Kelly complains there’s ‘too many trained dancers’ in Strictly Come Dancing (Credit: BBC)
It comes after Ross and his professional partner, Jowitz Pryzstal, were sent home in Sunday night’s Strictly: The Results Show.

Lorraine Kelly slams ‘trained dancers’

Lorraine told Ross on her Monday morning show: “Can I just say, from my point of view, I think there’s too many trained dancers in it. The reason I enjoy the show is for people like you, you don’t mind me saying this, getting better and better and better.

“To me, that’s what the show’s about. And it should be about. I know you wouldn’t say that because you’re too lovely. But I think there’s too many trained experienced people in it.

“It’s kind of like, ‘Okay, that’s great but I’m not invested and thinking, ‘Go for it!’ With you, I was like, ‘Yes, Rossy!’”

Ross, 63, laughed but was not swept into Lorraine’s discussion.
West End star Amber Davies is in the Strictly 2025 line-up (Credit: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing: Trained dancers

Lorraine will have been referring to Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope and West End star, Amber Davies. Both contestants have a very strong background in dance.

Aged 11, Lewis was cast in the West End production of Billy Elliot: The Musical. He played Billy’s best friend, Michael. He later went on to join the dance troupe, Ruff Diamond.

Fans online have praised Lorraine for speaking out. “Finally, someone’s saying what we’re all thinking!” wrote one viewer. “Ross was done dirty, and Lorraine’s the only one brave enough to call it out.” Others tagged the BBC directly, demanding “accountability” for what they described as “biased judging.” While Strictly’s producers haven’t issued an official comment, insiders say they stand by the judges’ decisions, insisting that “the panel scores each performance based solely on merit.”

Still, the controversy has sparked a wider debate about Strictly’s voting system and the balance of power between judges and the public. Many fans argue that the show should rely more heavily on viewer votes, especially when popular contestants like Ross are improving week after week. As one social media user put it, “If Strictly is about the joy of dancing and seeing people grow, then Ross should have stayed. It’s not just about perfect technique—it’s about heart.”

Lorraine’s fury, though, may also be rooted in personal pride. Ross has been a staple on her morning show for years, providing Hollywood gossip and celebrity interviews from Los Angeles. Their friendship goes back decades, and Lorraine often refers to him affectionately as “my wee pal.” Seeing him succeed on Strictly was clearly a point of pride—not to mention a great talking point for her daily broadcasts. Losing him from the competition means losing a dose of sparkle both on and off-screen.

The group competed on Sky’s Got To Dance and were crowed runners-up. It meant they performed in front of Ashley Banjo, Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and JLS star Aston Merrigold, too.

Amber, meanwhile, has enjoyed a successful musical theatre career since finding fame on Love Island in 2017. She has appeared in multiple West End productions, including Back to the Future: The Musical, Bring It On: The Musical and the musical production of Pretty Women.

Next year, Amber will be touring the UK with the stage show Legally Blonde. She has been cast as the lead character, Elle Woods.
Ross King was sent home from Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night (Credit: BBC)
Ross King’s exit

Lorraine heaped praise on Ross during Lorraine on Monday. The Scotsman has had no formal dance training in his life and made it to Week 3 of Strictly before being sent home. He was in the dance-off with EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon.

Lorraine told her co-star: “Thunderbirds have gone, which we are really annoyed about.” She then told Ross she and the team are “very proud” of him and all his Strictly efforts.

Ross confirmed he will be heading back home to Los Angeles now his Strictly journey has come to an end.

LORRAINE KELLY FUMES AT STRICTLY! “This Is a JOKE!” — Beloved TV Star SLAMS Judges After Co-Host Ross King Shockingly Eliminated

Lorraine Kelly is never one to hold back her opinions, and this weekend she proved it once again—this time taking aim at the judges of Strictly Come Dancing after her close friend and co-host Ross King was dramatically voted off the show. Viewers were left stunned by the elimination, but no one seemed more furious than Lorraine herself, who took to social media and her ITV morning show to express her disbelief, calling the decision “a total joke” and “completely unfair.”

Ross King, the Scottish TV presenter best known for his work as Lorraine’s Hollywood correspondent, had become a surprise fan favourite on Strictly this season. His charm, humour, and steady improvement on the dance floor had earned him a devoted following, even if he wasn’t the most technically perfect dancer in the lineup. Paired with professional dancer Dianne Buswell, Ross had just performed what many viewers thought was his strongest routine yet—a lively samba that had the audience on their feet. Yet, despite strong viewer support, the judges’ low scores sealed his fate.

When the results were announced, gasps filled the studio. Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) in outrage, flooding Strictly’s official account with comments defending Ross and accusing the judges of being “out of touch.” Lorraine was among the first to speak out, posting a fiery response within minutes of the result show airing: “You HAVE to be kidding me. Ross was brilliant tonight. The judges need their eyes checked—this is a JOKE!” Her comment quickly went viral, gathering thousands of likes and replies from equally furious fans.

By midweek, the media storm around Lorraine’s comments had reached tabloid frenzy. Headlines blared: “Lorraine vs. Strictly!”, “TV Queen Declares War on the Judges!”, and “Inside Lorraine’s Strictly Meltdown.” Yet, far from backing down, Lorraine doubled down. “I said what I said,” she told viewers. “Ross deserved better. Simple as that.” Her unapologetic stance has only added to her popularity with fans who admire her honesty.

As for Ross, he seems to be taking the drama in stride. He’s already hinted at returning to Lorraine with a special behind-the-scenes segment about his Strictly experience. “I can’t wait to tell all,” he teased. “And I promise—Lorraine will get her say too!” With that, viewers can almost guarantee that Lorraine won’t let the subject drop anytime soon.

In the end, Lorraine Kelly’s fiery defense of Ross King has reminded audiences why she’s one of Britain’s most beloved broadcasters—passionate, outspoken, and fiercely loyal to her friends. Whether or not the Strictly judges were right to eliminate Ross, one thing is certain: Lorraine has once again proven that when she thinks something’s unfair, she won’t stay silent. And in a world of carefully polished TV personalities, her raw honesty might just be the most refreshing thing on screen.

If Strictly Come Dancing thought Lorraine’s fury would fade quietly, they might want to think again. Because when it comes to standing up for her pals, Lorraine doesn’t just dance around the issue—she takes centre stage.