‘Criminally undermarked every week’ complain Strictly fans as show is plunged into new fix row

STRICTLY fans have hit out at the judges for "undermarking" Annabel Croft after she was booted out of the competition at the weekend.

The former tennis player became the latest to be eliminated alongside pro partner Johannes Radebe following a dance-off against Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell.

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It comes after head judge Shirley Ballas sparked a fresh sexism row during the show's semi-final.

Many fans have since claimed that Annabel had been unfairly marked each week.

One wrote: "Annabel with your departure the heart and soul of this show has just left the building. Criminally undermarked for your V.waltz which meant game over, no matter how many of us tried to save you! You’re a class act. Bless you."

A second posted: "Heartbreaking for Annabel. She was rather undermarked. She’s grown from the very first week. She deserved to get to the final but alas. But, also very happy for Bobby who has also fought hard after being undermarked in the past. Great finalists! Ellie to win."

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"I had a feeling it would be Annabel and Johannes, but can i just say she has no acting experience, only tennis experience, but she has come SO far and has improved SO much, she got undermarked week after week. She is just a fabulous human being," a third upset viewer said.

A fourth simply added: "Annabel & Johannes - undermarked."

Addressing her emotional exit on Instagram, Annabel admitted her sadness at her Strictly journey coming to an end.

The 57-year-old also thanked the crew and her co-stars - and even the judges - after they failed to put her and Johannes through with their Salsa to the song You'll Be Mine (Party Time) by Gloria Estefan.

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She said: "I have learnt to love ballroom and that’s all down to Johannes for being such an amazing, patient and genius teacher.

"Strictly really has been so life changing! When I think back to week 1, I was apprehensive and terrified… a bit like a rabbit in the headlights. But Strictly has brought me out of my shell and allowed me to discover things about myself that I never knew.

It comes after the show was hit with a new sexism row.

In the early stages of the BBC1 show, Shirley gave the lowest scores out of all four judges to former newsreader Angela Rippon, 79, former Coronation Street star Ellie Leach, 22, and media personality Zara McDermott, 26.

Judges Motsi Mabuse, 42, and Anton Du Beke, 57, voted to save Bobby, while hard-to-please Craig Revel Horwood, 58, had backed Annabel and Johannes.

Craig said of the two performances: “One dance was flashy, one dance was quiet.

“I think both couples have equalised completely. I saw improvement in this one couple.

“Based on this dance, and nothing in the past but this dance alone, the person which I think had the most exquisite technique is Annabel and Johannes.”

But delivering her decision, Shirley said: “I thought both couples were absolutely extraordinary.

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"I felt that both couples lifted their performance. I thought there was technical qualities on both sides, improvements galore.

“But again one tiny mistake coming out of a pivot turn — and therefore my decision would be to save Bobby and Dianne.”