STRICTLY host Rylan Clark-Neal has spoken out in support of the show's under-fire star Maisie Smith after she wound up in the dance-off for two weeks running.
The 19-year-old actress, who plays Tiffany in EastEnders, has been given a rough ride by the public - but he called on people to lay off her.
Many have suggested that Strictly fans don't like "confident young women" after the judges scored her highly - but viewers dumped her in the dance-off.
But 32-year-old Rylan told The Sun: "Maisie's not cocky or anything like that, she's a really sweet girl. "I think people might mistake talent for confidence because sometimes people don't always like it when someone comes on and they're good. "They're like: 'All right, slow down, we want to see.
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