Strictly fans 'threaten to switch off' over Pete Wicks as he survives ...

Strictly Come Dancing fans rushed to social media to issue the same complaint minutes into the start of the semi-final - the fact that Pete Wicks is still in the competition.

Fans believe the former TOWIE star isn't a good enough dancer to have made it through to the penultimate week of the BBC series and that far superior dancers have been eliminated ahead of him and professional partner Jowita Przystal.

Minutes into the show on Saturday, December 7 - which also featured Chris McCausland, Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill and Sarah Hadland - viewers were already complaining about Pete being in the line-up, before he'd set one foot on the dance floor. And they even threatened to stop watching Strictly if he makes it through to next weekend's final.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one said: "If Pete doesn't leave this week I'm actually never watching strictly again." Another said: "Well let's go, although I'm sure the great voting public will let me down again." A third chimed in with: "There is not one couple who should go home over Pete."

Another shouted: "PETE DOES NOT DESERVE TO MAKE THE FINAL." And a fifth added: "Let's stop messing about now, it's time for Pete and Jowita to go."

But there were others who are fully behind Pete. One said: "I'll be voting for Pete and Chris tonight. Strictly is an entertainment show. Those two men came into the show with no dancing experience and they for me, is what the show is all about. I really hope they both make the final."

Meanwhile, Tasha and Aljaz Skorjanec opened the semi-final with their routine and fans were left fearing the worst for them as they believe it's the "death slot".

On X, one person said: "Reading that Tasha is in the death slot... F*** THIS SHOW man. Why are they doing everything to protect Pete." Someone else wrote: "Tasha in the death slot? Interesting..."

A third claimed the show 'set Tasha up' after the reality star switched up her hair for some rather bouncy curls. They wrote: "Why have they dressed Tasha up stupidly? Hope they aren't setting her up."

The semi-final of the 20th anniversary series comes after Olympian Montell Douglas and her pro partner Johannes Radebe were eliminated last week during a surprise dance-off against Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec, who have been topping the leader board consistantly. Many fans were left questioning how Pete avoided a dance-off yet again.