BBC Breakfast's Dan Walker hits back at 'ridiculous' Strictly 'fix' claims – Daily Mail, Dailymail.co.uk

Presenter Dan Walker has spoken out in defense of his colleague Mike Bushell after the sports broadcaster was spared from elimination during Sunday’sStrictly Come Dancing.

Although the 53 – year-old’s Charleston failed to impress viewers, he was unanimously saved by the judges after he ended up in the bottom two for the third time alongside Viscountess Emma Weymouth, who was ultimately shown the door.

And while fans of the show brand the series ‘a fix’, Dan Walker came out in support of his pal, who has received vile death threats, on Monday’s instalment ofBBCBreakfast.

Speaking on the morning stalwart, Dan leapt to Mike’s defense and insisted that Mike isn’t being saved by the judges for his links to the broadcaster.

The 42 – year -old began ‘I’m getting increasingly annoyed with people giving [Mike] grief. Some of it is getting a bit cruel. All he’s doing is enjoying himself.

‘He’s trying really hard and all four of the judges said he was the better performer in the dance off than the Viscountess who went home.

‘He’s certainly not being kept in there because he’s working for the BBC. That’s a ridiculous accusation. ‘

Mike and pro partner Katya Jones first found themselves in the bottom two in Week 5, after their Salsa to Jump On It to The Sugar Hill Gang fell felt with viewers.

However, the dancing duo were spared and instead former England footballer David James and his professional partner Nadiya Bychkova were eliminated.

The pair then found themselves in the bottom two during Halloween Week when the tango did little to rouse fans alongside Corrie star Catherine Tyldesley and partner Johannes Radebe, who were ultimately given the boot afterhead judge Shirley Ballas had the deciding vote.

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After Mike and Katya escaped the chop for the third time on Sunday’s results show, social media was flooded with comments branding the show a ‘fix’ after Viscountess Emma Weymouth, 33, became the sixth celebrity to depart the dancefloor.

And furious Strictly fans once again took to Twitter on Sunday night to blast the show for keeping Mike despite ‘dozens of mistakes’.

One said: ‘Astonished by the decision to keep mike Bushell & katana Jones there were dozens of mistakes !!! Rubbish ‘

Another added:’ Seriously how is mike bushell still in competition surely this is a fix. ‘

A fan said: ‘Fed up with Strictly. Tonight was so unfair. Mike Bushell is useless & he certainly hasn’t ‘captured hearts’ !! ‘

While another penned:’ Emma Weymouth did the perfect dance off with no mistakes Mike Bushell looks awkward and almost dropped his partner during one of the lifts and yet his the through utter Madness. ‘

North Yorkshire native Mike – who has even received vile death threats over winning last week’s dance-off – defiantly appeared on BBC Breakfast to defend his position on the show earlier this month.

He said: ‘It’s an entertainment show, we’re all trying our best, you’re not really competing against anybody else, you compete against yourself to try and learn to get better and better each week, even if its just learning a couple of new steps.

‘As a non-dancer all I can do is put the hours in , do my best and get through it. You have to rise above the abuse on social media, that’s one of the sad things about social media.

‘All you can do is do your best, accept the judges’ decision and move on. Johannes and Catherine are lovely people, I didn’t want to see them go but someone has to go.

‘It’s like football – you have to accept the referee’s decision. [The judges] are the best judges in the world, they do know what they’re talking about, if they’d sent me home that would have been the best decision, I can’t get involved in any of that.

‘I just have to concentrate on improving, and if Katya is happy with what I’m doing then I’m happy.’