BBC Strictly Come Dancing star says 'I'm sorry' as they exit competition with 'proud' professional dancer

Shayne Ward was left apologising to his dance partner after he became the seventh celebrity to depart the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor.

The actor and singer has faced a rollercoaster of a ride in the BBC One dance contest this year with his pro partner Nancy Xu. But their latest stint in the dance-off proved to be third time unlucky as they were sent packing during Sunday night's (November 10) results show.

They had returned to the ballroom for week eight of Strictly's 2024 run with the notoriously difficult rumba, which they performed to Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper on Saturday night (November 9).

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While Shayne admitted to enjoying the performance, judge Motsi Mabuse told the former Coronation Street star that it "was not one of your best dances". Head judge Shirley Ballas had a more positive outlook and said the two were beginning to develop a chemistry and the pair were given 30 points.

Shayne and Nancy were then confirmed to be in the bottom two and faced the dreaded dance off off against Wynne Evans and Katya Jones during the seventh results show of Strictly's 20th-anniversary series.

Both couples performed their routines again with Shayne and Nancy first reprising their Rumba to Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper before Wynne and Katya performed their American Smooth to Grace Kelly by MIKA.

After both couples had danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts: Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Shayne and Nancy, as did Motsi Mabuse, while Anton Du Beke chose to save Wynne and Katya. With two votes in favour of Shayne and Nancy, the decision came down to head judge Shirley Ballas, who decided to save Wynne and Katya. As head judge, Shirley’s was the deciding vote, meaning that Shayne and Nancy would be leaving the competition.

When asked by Tess Daly about his time on the show, Shayne said: "I just want to say, you guys up there [the other contestants in the Clauditorium] are a dream. Every single day, coming in here and seeing you guys you helped me so much. I want to say thank you to the audience as well, for always being amazing for us all. This has been, honestly, one of the best things I've ever done."

"I'm proud that I made it to eight weeks as a novice dancer. A massive thank you goes to this incredible human right next to me [Nancy], who has put so much fire in me and made me believe that I can actually achieve more if I let myself go. I'm sorry it didn't work out to the end, but I'm super proud that I got to meet you [to Nancy] and dance with you, so thank you."

Nancy also shared: “I'm beyond proud of this dance partnership. Shayne from week one until this point, every second you put your feet on the dancefloor you improved yourself. You're a deep thinker, you always doubt yourself, you never believed yourself, but I never ever questioned you.

"When I watch you, I feel proud because I've turned someone who has never ever danced in their life into an amazing dancer. You should believe in yourself. I adored this partnership."