Strictly Come Dancing: Bruno Tonioli compares show to ‘Brexit’ as he slams ‘ludicrous’ race row

Tonioli said people need to stop moaning and vote
'Ludicrous': Bruno Tonioli has spoken out about the racism accusations
Gareth Cattermole/Getty
Emma Powell19 October 2016
The Weekender

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Bruno Tonioli has slammed the Strictly Come Dancing race row as “ludicrous” and compared the BBC ballroom show to Brexit.

The show was hit with accusations of racism after the first three people to be booted off were non-white contestants.

Melvin Odoom left on the public vote after Anastacia was unable to compete in a dance-off. Tameka Empson was eliminated when the judges voted to save Laura Whitmore and last week Naga Munchetty lost out on a place to Anastacia.

Tonioli has insisted the voting system is fair and said people should vote if they want to save their favourite celebrities.

Out: Naga Munchetty with her partner Pasha Kovalev
BBC / Guy Levy

Writing in his Best magazine column he said: “The so-called ‘racism row’ over Melvin, then Tameka leaving is ludicrous. This series is so competitive every vote makes a difference.”

He compared the voting to Britain’s EU referendum saying: “If you don’t vote you can’t moan when someone you love leaves.

"It’s like Brexit - vote, don’t get upset after the horse has bolted!”

Speaking to The Sun he said: “If there was a racist issue we wouldn’t be there in the first place.

“I think it’s got nothing to do with that. I think people are just trying to find a story to make out of nothing essentially.

“Do you know what? The thing is, every single person on that show is amazing.

“Whoever leaves, it’s going to be a story."

The BBC has defended the show from claims of racism, saying: “Judges judge the dancing and the dancing alone, not anything else.”

Strictly Come Dancing 2016

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