She narrowly avoided elimination last week after facing Max George and Dianne Buswell in the dance off during last week’s Strictly Come Dancing contest.
And Strictly fans have been left baffled as Maisie Smith placed in the bottom two for the second week running alongside Caroline Quentin during Sunday’s results show.
The Eastenders actress, 19, narrowly avoided the chop again after scoring 27 points out of 40, her highest score yet, for her sizzling salsa to Meghan Trainor’s Better When I’m Dancing.
‘Unbelievable’: Strictly fans have been left baffled as Maisie Smith placed in the bottom two for the second week running alongside Caroline Quentin during Sunday’s results show
And it was the Blue Murder star, 60, who sadly became the fourth contestant to be eliminated from Strictly this week following the tense dance-off.
Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke – who filled in for Motsi Mabuse while she self-isolates – unanimously chose to save Maisie after awarding her high scores on Saturday.
But Strictly fans were left questioning how the soap actress and her professional partner Gorka Marquez even found themselves in the bottom two in the first place.
Many outraged viewers took to Twitter to slam her landing in the dance-off for the second week running as ‘unbelievable’ as they claimed she is the ‘best dancer’ in the competition.
Dance-off: The Eastenders actress, 19, narrowly avoided the chop after scoring 27 points out of 40, her highest score yet, for her salsa to Meghan Trainor’s Better When I’m Dancing
One fan furiously penned: @maisie_smith_ in the dance-off AGAIN?? Nah, something’s awry here. The girl can clearly DANCE!! #Strictly #MaisieSmith’
While another wrote: ‘so so sorry you’ve ended up in the dance off, again. You are so incredibly talented! I’m really enjoying watching you totally blossom. Please never stop being you [heart emojis]’
Another expressed their disbelief, posting: ‘I just don’t get it!! I think @maisie_smith_ is amazing every week! #SCD’
And a fourth said: ‘No way @maisie_smith_ and @gorkamarquez1 should be in the bottom 2 #Strictly’
Meanwhile, other fans agreed with former Strictly pro Kevin Clifton’s claims from earlier in the week that Maisie was a victim of sexism after landing in the dance-off.
Fuming fans: Outraged viewers took to Twitter to slam her landing in the dance-off for the second week as ‘unbelievable’ as they claimed she is the ‘best dancer’ in the competition
One fan said: ‘Why is it when a man’s outspoken he’s confident but when a woman’s outspoken she’s cocky? #Strictly #MaisieSmith’
And other viewer angrily penned: ‘@Maisie_smith_ is in the bottom 2 again?! People love to both & tear down beautiful, confident women. Why?? She’s literally the best dancer in the competition! #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly #maisie’
While a third fumed: ‘Poor @maisie_smith_ it’s so typical of the UK public to mistake confidence with arrogance.’
The floods of fuming comments come soon after Kevin Clifton claimed that Maisie was a victim of sexism after landing in the dance-off for the first time last Sunday.
Kevin, who danced with Maisie in the 2019 Children In Need special, shared his shock and his theory on why it had happened.
Disappointed: Last week’s close call reportedly left Maisie feeling shaken and she apparently had to be comforted by her fellow Strictly co-stars after taking the vote ‘to heart’
‘Cocky’: Meanwhile, other fans agreed with former Strictly pro Kevin Clifton’s claims from earlier in the week that Maisie was a victim of sexism after landing in the dance-off
Taking to Twitter on Monday, he wrote: ‘People love a confident/ talented/ successful man but a confident girl gets labelled cocky.’
Last week’s close call reportedly left Maisie feeling shaken and she apparently had to be comforted by her fellow Strictly co-stars after taking the vote ‘to heart’.
A source told The Sun: ‘Poor Maisie has been so upset – she’s been crying all night and has really taken it to heart. She’s young and living away from home for the first time so it’s hard on her.’
The insider went on to say that the young actress had the support of her fellow celebrity contestants and professional dancers as they attempted to cheer her up.
They added: ‘The show’s dancers and the other celebs have been rallying around and trying to lift her spirits.’
High score: The actress secured her highest score of the series this week, but unfortunately her professional partner Gorka, 30, nearly dropped her after she backflipped during the salsa
This week, the actress secured her highest score of the season after last week’s Cha Cha, which scored her a respectable 24 points from the judges.
But unfortunately for Maisie, her professional partner Gorka, 30, nearly dropped her after she backflipped during the salsa.
All three judges pointed out the slip-up, with Craig Revel Horwood saying: ‘It was a bit unfortunate about the bad landing but I’m blaming your partner.’
But Gorka held his hands up and admitted that it was solely his fault.
Anton Du Beke deemed the dance ‘marvellous’ and ‘terrific’ regardless and the judges awarded them a trio of 9s.
Saved: Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke – who filled in for Motsi Mabuse while she self-isolates – unanimously chose to save Maisie once again
After surprisingly landing in the dance-off, Maisie managed to save herself and it was former Jonathan Creek star Caroline, 60, who sadly waved goodbye after dancing the Cha Cha to Fontella Bass’s Rescue Me.
She hailed her professional partner Johannes Radebe as her ‘greatest gift’ as she claimed her five-week stint fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a dancer.
When asked whether she’s accomplished her aims by appearing on the BBC hit, presenter Caroline told hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly: ‘Yeah.
‘In a way slightly more than that because I have had the honour and privilege of working with some of the greatest dancers this country has ever known I mean I really believe it, I think they are absolutely fantastic.
Goodbye! But it was former Jonathan Creek star Caroline, 60, who sadly waved goodbye after dancing the Cha Cha to Fontella Bass’s Rescue Me
‘But of course my greatest gift coming on this show is this man.’
Choreographer Johannes expressed his gratitude towards the axed star as he added: ‘Oh my gosh, what a woman, thank you, thank you again!
‘Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don’t know what to say, because it was a beautiful one, I had a beautiful journey with you, thank you my darling, thank you.’
Keeping in theme with the Elstree-based ‘Blackpool’ special, the professional dancers showcased their fancy footwork as they danced to Billy Ocean.
Strictly Come Dancing continues next Saturday on BBC One.