Strictly Come Dancing fans have speculated that Alex Kingston's elimination from the show was driven by an "ulterior motive" related to her health rather than her dance performance. Kingston was the eighth celebrity to leave the competition, finishing in sixth place after landing in the dance-off against Balvinder Sopal.
The judges' decision to send Kingston home was not unanimous. Anton du Beke opted to save her, but head judge Shirley Ballas cast the deciding vote in favor of Sopal, stating she believed Sopal and her partner had "upped their game a bit more." However, viewers took to social media platform X to express their belief that Kingston had performed better in the dance-off and suggested her exit was strategically planned due to her physical struggles.
Fans pointed to observations of Kingston appearing to limp and be in pain, particularly in her upper thigh area. Some suggested she was "dosed up" to perform but was clearly struggling. Others felt Kingston "gracefully stepped aside," appearing exhausted and that the judges' vote didn't reflect her superior dancing in the dance-off. Multiple viewers commented that Kingston seemed to be "begging to be sent home" and was on the verge of withdrawing anyway due to injury.
Kingston herself has acknowledged the significant physical toll the competition has taken on her body. She previously revealed she had battled cancer the previous year and her daughter shared that she had been dancing with a broken rib. Kingston admitted that while her body suffered, her spirit pushed her to continue, recognizing that physical problems and fatigue are part of a dancer's life. Despite her elimination, Kingston reflected positively on her journey, expressing pride in learning to dance and gratitude for her partner.