EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy wades into Strictly fix row claiming Pete Wicks should have been eliminated

FORMER Strictly Come Dancing contestant and EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy has given her thoughts on the latest Strictly result.

The Sonia Fowler actress has shared her thoughts on the Blackpool special of Strictly Come Dancing, which saw Pete Wicks in the dance off but saved by judges.

PAPete Wicks and Jowita Przystal routine has been heavily criticised for being ‘overmarked’[/caption] Channel 4EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has claimed that Pete Wicks should have gone home from Strictly, instead of being saved by the judges[/caption]

Speaking on her podcast with Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page, Natalie said: “I do think Pete should have gone before him. I’m just talking now about dancing.

“I’m not a professional dancer but Pete knows that. Did you see Pete’s face?

“Bless his heart, he genuinely could not believe he was still in. He’s almost embarrassed to still be in it.”

The comments come after viewers raged over the result over the weekend, as Wynne Evans and Katya Jones were the latest couple to exit.

Pete was praised on the night by head judge Shirley Ballas, who was left giggling like a schoolgirl, the 64-year-old could barely compose herself enough to critique the routine.

Egging her on, Pete asked her: “Shirley, how do you feel darling? I feel great!”

She replied: “I’ll have to calm my­self down. Well, do you know what, you had some very nice isolation.”

She added: “I don’t think I’m going to forget this evening for as long as I live, darling.”

But some fans were furious that the usually technique-obsessed panelist scored the haphazard routine a generous eight.

Some slammed Shirley for “objectifying” Pete, claiming there would be outrage if a male judge made bawdy comments about a female contestant and overmarked their performance in a similar way.

For the past nine weeks the public vote has helped Pete dodge the dance-off as he regularly languished at the lower end of the leaderboard.

Each week the judges’ scores are combined with the public vote, meaning even a couple who have scored poorly can be carried through by their popularity among viewers.

But some fans are frustrated that his success comes at the expense of other, arguably more ­talented dancers.

PAKatya Jones and Wynne Evans were the latest couple to be eliminated from Strictly[/caption] PAPete’s pink Cha-Cha routine had head judge Shirley Ballas giggling as she awarded him 8 out of 10[/caption] HandoutNatalie Cassidy has previously competed on Strictly in 2009 alongside professional Vincent Simone[/caption]