Strictly Come Dancing viewers have insisted that the ‘real winner’ of the show was ‘robbed’ after Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola were crowned the 2023 champions.
Ellie and Vito beat fellow finalists Layton Williams and his partner Nikita Kumzin, as well as Bobby Brazier and his partner Dianne Buswell.
While many were delighted that Ellie, 22, secured the win, some suggested that ‘the most talented contestant ever’ lost out on lifting the Glitterball.
Fans claimed that Layton should have won the competition, arguing that he scored higher and topped the leaderboard with 119 points, just one point off a perfect score.
However, during the final the judges’ votes don’t count for anything unlike the rest of the series, so the winner is entirely down to the public vote.
Strictly Come Dancing viewers have insisted that the ‘real winner’ of the show was ‘robbed’ after Ellie Leac h and Vito Coppola were crowned the 2023 champions
Ellie and Vito beat fellow finalists Layton Williams and his partner Nikita Kumzin, as well as Bobby Brazier and his partner Dianne Buswell (pictured)
Reacting to the news on social media after the results, one person said: ‘Ellie is a deserving winner but my god Layton was robbed.
‘Possibly the most talent contestant that Strictly has EVER had.’
Another person agreed, and said: ‘Great final and I have nothing against Ellie and Vito but Layton and Nikita were robbed. Such a shame..’
One other said: ‘Layton was robbed. Haven’t been this livid since Faye from Steps was robbed. This is why you can’t trust the British public to vote.’
Another said there was reason behind it, after Layton suffered homophobic trolling during the series, writing: ‘Layton was robbed of the trophy. Just shows homophobia is alive and kicking in the UK!! Why am I NOT surprised…’
One other said: ‘Layton was robbed! A true star (as he has been since Beautiful People tbh).’
Another said: ‘Layton and Nikita were ROBBED. They’re the real winners and danced the best tonight. Rigged rigged rigged.’
A different person, wrote: ‘Although Ellie and Vito were great, you were robbed Layton. We’ve watched you ever since Beautiful People. What are star you are.’
Another person referenced Ellie’s slip up, writing: ‘Layton and Nikita getting robbed of the Strictly Glitterball when Ellie messed up one of her lifts and still won, disappointing.’
Layton pictured leaving the after party on Saturday night after the show
Reacting to the news on social media after the results, one person said: ‘Ellie is a deserving winner but my god Layton was robbed
However it’s not all disappointment for Layton, after it was claimed and and Bobby are at the centre of a TV battle over tell-all documentaries, according to reports.
They have both apparently been approached by production bosses to make documentaries about the struggles they have faced in their lives.
Despite losing out on the Glitterball trophy to winner Ellie, the future still looks bright for the runners-up who are set to be signed for big money deals.
According to The Mirror, independent production companies who make films for broadcasters including the BBC, want to sign them both in the wake of the show.
The publication have said that Bobby, 20, has been approached for a documentary exploring parental loss, after the tragic death of his mother Jade Goody.
While Layton, 29, would investigate what can be done to stop homophobia online after suffering severe trolling during his time on the show.
A source said: ‘Bobby and Layton haven’t just won the hearts of the public, they have caught the eye of TV bosses with their emotional journeys on Strictly.
‘There is already competition between terrestrial channels and it’s likely to spark a bidding battle.’
However it’s not all disappointment for Layton, after it was claimed and and Bobby are at the centre of a TV battle over tell-all documentaries, according to reports
The publication have said that Bobby, 20, has been approached for a documentary exploring parental loss, after the tragic death of his mother Jade Goody
They would follow the likes of former winner Rose Ayling-Ellis, who was the first deaf champ on the show and later created a documentary called Signs For Change.
The show’s first disabled contestant – Ellie Simmons – also went on to make a documentary, called Finding My Secret Family, which followed her attempt to find her birth mother.
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