Mark Benton hits back at Strictly critics

Strictly Come Dancing's Mark Benton has hit back at critics who have suggested he and Dave Myers should not still be on the show.

The former Waterloo Road star faced a backlash from viewers on Twitter last weekend after both he and Dave made it through to this week, while Abbey Clancy and Rachel Riley found themselves in the bottom two.

However he told the Sunday Mirror that those people should 'get a life'.

"People have said things like 'if you had humility you would resign from the show' - similar to what Dave was getting," Mark said, "unpleasant things from peopel who have nothing better to do with their time.

"I think it is appalling. I wouldn't quit. I would stay on the show. Dave tries his hardest to do his best and is a wonderful man and entertainer and when people say hotrible stuff I don't know what to say to them. It's part of the show."

Mark picked up 24 points on Saturday night for a James Bond-themed rumba to Goldfinger - although his bald wig and costume won him more comparisons to Austin Powers villain Dr Evil than to 007's cat-stroking adversary Ernest Blofeld.

Darcey Bussell told him: "You tried Goldfinger, but it ended up more of a fish finger,", while Bruno Tonioli added: "If you stroked the floor the same way as you stroked that white pussycat it would have been better."

The results will be revealed on Sunday night's Strictly, with one couple missing out on the chance to perform at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom next weekend.