Strictly Come Dancing viewers have insisted the show's 'real winner' was 'robbed' after Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola were crowned 2023 champions.
Ellie and Vito defeated fellow finalists Layton Williams and his partner Nikita Kumzin, as well as Bobby Brazier and his partner Dianne Buswell.
While many were happy to see Ellie, 22, secure the win, some suggested 'the most talented competitor ever' lost when lifting the Glitterball.
Fans claimed that Layton should have won the competition, arguing that he scored higher and topped the leaderboard with 119 points, just one point short of a perfect score.
However, during the finale, unlike the rest of the series, the jury votes count for nothing, so the winner is entirely dependent on the public vote.
Strictly Come Dancing viewers have insisted the show's 'real winner' was 'robbed' after Ellie Leac h and Vito Coppola were crowned 2023 champions
Ellie and Vito beat fellow finalists Layton Williams and his partner Nikita Kumzin, as well as Bobby Brazier and his partner Dianne Buswell (pictured)
Reacting to the news on social media after the result, one person said: 'Ellie is a deserved winner but my god Layton has been robbed.
'Possibly the most talented contestant Strictly has EVER had.'
Another agreed, saying: 'Great finale and I have nothing against Ellie and Vito but Layton and Nikita were robbed. Such a pity..'
Another said: 'Layton was robbed. I haven't been this furious since Faye was robbed of Steps. That's why you can't trust the British public to vote.”
Another said there was a reason behind it, after Layton endured homophobic trolling during the series, writing: 'Layton was robbed of the trophy. Shows that homophobia is alive and well in Britain!! Why am I not surprised…'
Another said: 'Layton got robbed! A real star (as he has been since Beautiful People tbh).”
Another said: 'Layton and Nikita were robbed. They are the real winners and danced the best tonight. Rigged rigged rigged.”
Another person wrote, “Although Ellie and Vito were great, you Layton got robbed. We've been watching you since Beautiful People. What a star you are.'
Another person pointed to Ellie's mistake, writing: 'Layton and Nikita were robbed of the Strictly Glitterball when Ellie messed up one of her lifts and still won, disappointing.'
Reacting to the news on social media after the result, someone said: 'Ellie is a deserved winner but my god Layton has been robbed
It's not all disappointment for Layton, however, after it was alleged and Bobby is at the center of a TV battle for tell-all documentaries, reports suggest.
They have apparently both been approached by production bosses to make documentaries about the problems they have faced in their lives.
Despite losing the Glitterball Trophy to winner Ellie, the future still looks bright for the runners-up who are set to sign big money deals.
According to The mirrorindependent production companies that make films for the BBC, among others, want to sign them both after the show.
The publication reports that 20-year-old Bobby has been approached for a documentary about parental loss, following the tragic death of his mother Jade Goody.
While Layton, 29, is said to be exploring what can be done to stop homophobia online after facing severe trolling during his time on the show.
A source said: 'Bobby and Layton have not only captured the hearts of audiences, they've also caught the attention of TV bosses with their emotional journeys on Strictly.
“There is already competition between terrestrial channels and this is likely to lead to a bidding war.”
However, it's not all disappointment for Layton after it was claimed and Bobby is at the center of a TV battle over tell-all documentaries, according to reports
The publication says 20-year-old Bobby has been approached for a documentary about parental loss, following the tragic death of his mother Jade Goody.
They followed the likes of former winner Rose Ayling-Ellis, who was the show's first deaf champion and later made a documentary called Signs For Change.
The show's first disabled contestant – Ellie Simmons – also made a documentary called Finding My Secret Family, which followed her attempt to find her birth mother.
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