The fifth elimination on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season five has sent fans reeling and prompted a surge of online commentary by heartbroken watchers.

Spoilers ahead.

The seventh episode, aptly named ‘Melodrama-Rama’, aired on screens saw the queens compete in an acting challenge. The six remaining queens were placed into pairs to mimic three TV parodies including: ‘Footballers’ Wags’, (Cara Melle and Michael Marouli), ‘Holedark’ (Ginger Johnson and Kate Butch) and ‘Femmerdale’ (Tomara Thomas and DeDeLicious).

As the credits rolled on the final challenge, all the queens were closely tied in ranking.

After the screening of the spoofs, the regular panel of RuPaul, Michelle Visage and Alan Carr was joined by Joel Dermott as guest judge, who also critiqued the runway themed ‘Pajamarama’.

Post-deliberation, RuPaul commented on the high standard of the week and the challenge this posed in deciding who should lip-sync: “Choosing a bottom two this week was harder than Kate Butch’s hairline in the screen test. It all came down to who delivered the most funny.”

The decision was made for Care Melle and Michael Marouli to take on the battle.

The pair lip-synced for their lives to Samantha Fox’s 80s classic ‘’Touch Me (I Want Your Body)’ and after much deliberation and an emotional goodbye, it was Care Melle’s turn to sashay away.

“Thank you so much for allowing me to be on this stage with these amazing queens. This is an experience I’ve been dreaming of my whole life, thank you so much,” Cara tearfully said to Ru. Before turning around and stating: “I guess you get to look at this ass one final time,” and quoting her Dionne Warwick Snatch Game performance as her final exit line: “you’re welcome for my presence.”

Cara Melle added in her exit interview: “I’m feeling, to be honest, heartbroken. I really wanted to go all the way. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done but I’m so proud of myself for making it this far.”

Fans joined in with the emotional response. One fan tweeted: “T f… SHE WAS THE WINNER OF THE SEASON”.

Another fan added, “Cara Melle, you deserved better”.

Keep scrolling for more fan reactions.

https://twitter.com/Saliama_Kina/status/1722782712421834908

https://twitter.com/cold_aqva/status/1722785230916870188

Watch the next episode RuPaul’s Drag Race UK next Thursday at 9pm on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer