The latest twist from the ballroom has landed, and it is already making waves in entertainment news Ireland. Actress Melanie Walters has become the second celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing after another difficult weekend that saw her near the bottom of the leaderboard before a tense dance-off sealed her fate.
Walters, best known to many viewers for Gavin and Stacey, had been partnered with returning professional Aljaz Skorjanec. Their Charleston to Gina G’s Ooh Ahh… Just A Little Bit earned 17 points on Saturday night, but the score was not enough to lift them clear of danger in one of the most talked-about moments in Irish entertainment news this weekend.
Strictly result leads the latest entertainment news Ireland roundup
Sunday’s results show confirmed that Walters and Skorjanec would face former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and partner Alexis Warr in the dance-off. Wright-Phillips and Warr had earlier scored 15 for their quickstep to I’m A Believer by The Monkees, setting up a closely fought save-or-send-home decision.
After both couples performed again, the judges delivered a split but decisive verdict:
- Motsi Mabuse voted to save Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec
- Shirley Ballas chose to save Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr
- Anton Du Beke also backed Wright-Phillips and Warr
- Craig Revel Horwood completed the majority decision
That meant Walters became the second contestant eliminated from the 2026 series.
How Melanie Walters’ Strictly journey came to an end
The result did not come entirely out of nowhere. Walters had struggled to gain momentum across the opening weeks of the competition and had already found herself in danger early in the run. Her performances included:
- A cha cha cha in week one that scored 15
- A Movie Week waltz to Edelweiss that also scored 15
- A Charleston in week three that improved slightly to 17
Even with that lift, she remained vulnerable. Judge Craig Revel Horwood said he “didn’t love” the routine, while Motsi Mabuse offered encouragement and urged her to keep going. In the end, audience votes and judges’ scores combined to put the actress back in the bottom two.
For fans who follow TV news Ireland and the biggest reality competition moments, the exit marks an emotional early departure for a contestant many viewers had hoped would find her stride.
What else happened on the results show?
The elimination was not the only talking point. The episode also featured a special ballroom-versus-Latin professional showcase, with judges Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke joining the action on the floor. Musician Jalen Ngonda also performed Burning Temptation, accompanied by professional dancers Neil Jones and Lethabo Monametsi.
Those extra performances gave the show its usual Sunday sparkle and helped keep it firmly in the conversation across celebrity news Ireland, trending entertainment Ireland, and wider pop culture Ireland coverage.
What happens next on Strictly?
The remaining 13 couples now move on to Icons Week, which promises another major test as the competition begins to take shape. Walters and Skorjanec are expected to reflect on their run when they appear on It Takes Two.
For viewers tracking the biggest reality TV moments, this was a reminder that early leaderboard struggles can quickly become decisive. As entertainment news Ireland continues to follow every ballroom twist, all eyes now turn to next Saturday to see which celebrity can bounce back and who may face the next dance-off danger.
Takeaway: Melanie Walters’ exit delivers one of the first real shocks of the season, proving once again why entertainment news Ireland audiences keep coming back to Strictly for drama, surprises and must-watch Sunday night results.
