BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Shirley Ballas claims Layton Williams 'broke rules' in dance-off after 'problem' comments

Shirley Ballas has addressed why she didn't opt to save Layton Williams during the latest Strictly Come Dancing dance-off as she claimed he 'didn't follow the rules'. The head judge went against her fellow judges during the BBC One dance contest's latest results show.

On Saturday night, the remaining six couples were vying for a place in week eleven of the competition - which is also musicals week - and there were tears and standing ovations in the ballroom as Bobby Brazier dedicated his latest Strictly routine to his mother Jade Goody.

But Sunday night (November 26) was, unfortunately, all about the dance-off and it was Layton Williams and Angela Scanlon who found themselves fighting for their place in the competition. Both couples performed their routines again. Layton and his dance partner Nikita Kuzmin performed their American Smooth to ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’ by Björk.

READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans share 'shame' over Johannes Radebe as Annabel Croft announces new dance partner

READ MORE: Read more of today's top stories from the Manchester Evening News

Angela and her dance partner Carlos Gu performed their Cha Cha to ‘I Will Survive’ by Gloria Gaynor in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition. However, it was Angela and Carlos who became the ninth couple to be eliminated from the competition after three of the four judges opted to save Layton and Nikita.

Shirley was the only judge who would have opted to save the exiting couple and said: "Well important for me always when it comes to Ballroom and Latin is the character of the dance, that it’s true to the dance, timing and quality and I would have voted for Angela and Carlos."

It comes after she critiqued Layton and Nikita's performance