Tameka Empson has revealed her disappointment at being kicked off ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ so early in the series, admitting she feels she was gone “too soon”.
In Sunday’s (9 October) results show, the ‘EastEnders’ star became the second contestant to be voted off the show, after she and TV presenter Laura Whitmore landed themselves in the bottom two.
She has now spoken about her elimination on spin-off show ‘It Takes Two’, insisting she didn’t think she deserved to leave, and saying she still had “more to give” to the competition.
An emotional Tameka told presenter Zoe Ball: “Not being big-headed but I really thought I put all the right moves in. I didn’t put a foot wrong, and just really being in that character. I had a bit of pain in my back but I used that pain to drive through.”
The judging panel clearly agreed with her at the time, with Bruno Tonioli telling both Tameka and Laura in Sunday’s show: “You two shouldn’t even be here. Both great performers, you gave it all you had.”
Len Goodman similarly added: “In my opinion neither should be in the dance off but that’s the nature of the thing.”
Tameka’s exit has proven to be a particularly controversial one, with some critics even accusing ‘Strictly’ voters of racism, particularly given that her departure came just one week after Melvin Odoom was the first star to bow out of the competition.
‘Strictly Come Dancing’ continues on Saturday (15 October) on BBC One.