Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli has brushed off the voting row, saying: "I don't see what all the big fuss is about."

Viewers were left fuming after the scoring mix-up on Saturday night which put all three couples through to the final.

Tie row: judges Bruno and Arlene Phillips last night

The judges tied Lisa Snowdon and Rachel Stevens with the same score, meaning that any votes to keep Holby City actor Tom Chambers out of the dance-off were wasted as the voting public could not save him from the bottom two.

The BBC received 2,000 complaints after phone lines were kept open for two hours before executives realised the mistake. But the corporation has decided that votes will be carried over to the final this Saturday and is making the unprecedented move of putting up a leader board revealing the marks already given by the audience at the start of the show. Refunds will be paid to voters who insist upon it.

Last night, Italian-born Tonioli was ebullient at the new production of Sunset Boulevard at the Comedy Theatre, choreographed by fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood.

Tonioli said: "All of the votes will be carried over anyway. It just makes the whole show more exciting. People need to have a pinch more of control."

Former contestant Mark Foster added: "They all deserve to be in the final anyway."