Strictly Come Dancing fans call for Ed Balls to quit after he survives over Greg Rutherford

Viewers have called for him to do the "moral" thing and quit
On fire: Ed Balls in the Tower Ballroom
BBC/Guy Levy
Emma Powell22 November 2016

Strictly Come Dancing fans have called for Ed Balls to quit the show after he avoided the dance-off for another week.

Balls, 49, was saved during the Blackpool special despite finishing at the bottom of the leader board.

The former Shadow Chancellor was lowered onto the Tower Ballroom on a flaming piano before joining partner Katya Jones to perform the jive to Great Balls of Fire.

Head judge Len Goodman praised the routine, telling Balls: “You came down here and you made Blackpool rock.”

Great balls of fire: Ed Balls dancing the jive with Katya Jones
BBC/Guy Levy

But some viewers were less than impressed and called for him to step down from the competition after Greg Rutherford found himself in the dance-off with Claudia Fragapane and was booted out.

One viewer called for Balls to follow in the footsteps of John Sergeant, who quit the BBC ballroom show in 2008 after repeatedly being saved each week.

“Ed Balls should do the decent thing now as John Sergeant did in 2008,” one viewer tweeted.

Another posted: “Not impressed with that at all, it's not about your pro dancer? Do the decent thing and quit! PLEASE!! Go home Ed Balls!”

Speaking on Radio 4’s Today show he said: “As it goes on in this competition, the dance becomes a bigger deal but in the end you’ve got to respect the voters.

“The public decide who becomes, President or Prime Minister, or who stays in Strictly.”

Danny Mac this week topped the leader board with his Charleston to Putting on the Ritz.

The former Hollyoaks actor celebrated with his dance partner Oti Mabuse after they received the first 40 points of the series.

Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One on Saturday at 7pm.

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