Swimmer Tom Dean ‘gutted’ after ‘genuine shock’ of Strictly Come Dancing exit

Olympic swimmer Tom Dean has said he is “gutted” after the “genuine shock” of being the first contestant to be eliminated from this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The 24-year-old said he “wanted to go further in the competition” and had a “great time” on the show, during an interview on Strictly companion show It Takes Two.

His partner Nadiya Bychkova echoed his thoughts, saying she was “absolutely gutted” that she would not “get the chance to teach this wonderful man another dance”.

Dean said: “I definitely wanted to go further in the competition.

“I’m gutted, there’s no two ways about it, and I’ve thought about it loads, we’ve spoken about it loads, and I did give it my all.

“There was nothing more I could have given, and I loved every part of it.

“Some people find the training really tough, and they just enjoy the shows or the other way around, I loved it all.

“We trained really, really hard together, I had a great time.

“I loved the shows on a weekend, it was really special, there was no bit I didn’t enjoy.

“So for it to get cut short like that, was just gutting, and as I said, I don’t know what more either of us could have done.

“It was a genuine shock, I just wish I could have kept going, I really, really do.”

Dean and Bychkova’s cha cha routine to Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind and Fire failed to impress most of the judges on Saturday’s show, and they were booted off during the dance-off during Sunday’s results episode of the BBC One show.

Speaking on today’s episode of It Takes Two, Bychkova said: “It was a shock and I’m absolutely gutted that I won’t get the chance to teach this wonderful man another dance, and then maybe another dance.

“We had so many plans, I was really excited about the movie week, what we could have done and the dance we were preparing, I had all the choreography.

“I just really love the show, but being able to teach someone like Tom made me fall in love with the show even more.

“It was really, really special, and I genuinely enjoyed every moment of our rehearsals, every time he walked into the room, he just brought joy, and he brought joy to Strictly.”

The gold-medallist swimmer and his partner were beaten by singer and actress Toyah Willcox, 66, who reprised a lively jive to Nutbush City Limits by Ike and Tina Turner with her professional partner Neil Jones.

Before the dance-off, the judges had given Dean a total score of 43 for his two dances from the first and second week of the live show, while Willcox earned a total of 30 points.

Judges Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse decided to save Willcox and Jones while Anton Du Beke opted to save Dean and Bychkova, and Shirley Ballas had the deciding vote.

Ballas opted for Willcox and Jones, sending Dean and Bychkova home.

The remaining couples will take to the dancefloor next Saturday for the movie week special at 6.25pm – with the results show on Sunday at 7.15pm on BBC One.