Dean, who has won three Olympic medals for swimming and successfully defended the 4×200 metres freestyle relay gold this summer, was the first to be evicted from this year’s series of the BBC One show on Sunday night, September 29.
The 24-year-old’s cha cha routine to Boogie Wonderland by Earth Wind and Fire with professional partner Nadiya Bychkova failed to impress the judges despite ranking higher than some of his competitors on the series’ leader board – leaving shocked fans on social media convinced that he had been “robbed”.
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He was beaten in a dance-off by singer and actress Toyah Wilcox, 66, who impressed Craig Revel Howard and Motsi Mabuse with her lively jive to Nutbush City Limits by Ike and Tina Turner with partner Neil Jones.
Before the head-to-head, Dean had been given a score of 43 for his two dances on the series so far, while Wilcox had only earned 30 points.
Judge Anton Du Beke opted to save Dean and Bychkova, but the deciding vote went to Shirley Ballas, who decided in favour of Wilcox and Jones, sending the former Marlow pupil and his partner home.