Shaun Wright‑Phillips eliminated as Strictly’s fourth celebrity exits

The ex‑England striker lost to Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu, and BBC announced a triple dance‑off for the Halloween episode.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 25 Oct 2026 23:01:44 GMT

Former England footballer Shaun Wright‑Phillips and his professional partner Alexis Warr were the fourth celebrity couple to leave BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, according to both the Independent and the Evening Standard.

What happened

During Sunday’s results show, Wright‑Phillips and Warr faced a dance‑off against actress Jaime Winstone and her partner Carlos Gu. The pair performed a jive to “Faith” by Stevie Wonder featuring Ariana Grande, while Winstone and Gu repeated their foxtrot to “Man I Need” by Olivia Dean. Judges Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse voted to save Winstone and Gu; head judge Shirley Ballas voted for Wright‑Phillips and Warr, leaving the casting vote to Bruno Tomas Du Beke, who chose to keep Winstone and Gu, eliminating Wright‑Phillips and Warr.

What the reports add

The Independent noted that Winstone and Gu had finished in the bottom two after the public vote despite scoring 25 points for their dance on Saturday’s episode. The Standard reported the same public‑vote detail and added that the couple’s foxtrot was performed “again” after an earlier showing. Both outlets highlighted the surprise announcement that Strictly will stage its first triple dance‑off during next week’s Halloween episode, where the three lowest‑scoring couples will dance again before one is eliminated.

What was said

Shirley Ballas, head judge, voted to save Wright‑Phillips and Warr, as reported by both sources. The Independent quoted the judges’ votes but did not provide direct statements from the judges beyond the voting outcome.

How it came about

Shaun Wright‑Phillips entered the competition in the launch episode covered by Felo News on 26 September (Strictly Come Dancing 2026: New Couples Take the Floor) and was flagged as a likely early exit in a 24 October preview (Shaun Wright‑Phillips tipped as next Strictly exit as Week 5 begins). The series has already seen other eliminations, including Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon on 18 October (Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing).

Key facts

Shaun Wright‑Phillips and Alexis Warr were eliminated after a dance‑off against Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu. (independent.co.uk)
Judges Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse voted to save Winstone and Gu; Shirley Ballas voted for Wright‑Phillips and Warr. (standard.co.uk)
BBC announced a triple dance‑off for the Halloween episode, involving the three lowest‑scoring couples. (independent.co.uk)