Strictly Come Dancing 2023: First celebrity eliminated is well known TV favourite

What did you miss?

Strictly Come Dancing viewers were left reeling when Les Dennis became the first celebrity to be eliminated from the latest series.

The 69-year-old actor, comedian and gameshow host may have been bottom of the leader board, but head judge Shirley Ballas had said he should score a 10 for entertainment after his latest comedy performance on the dancefloor.

However, after landing in the bottom two with BBC Asian Network radio DJ Nikita Kanda, it was Coronation Street star Dennis who was sent home.

What, how, and why?

After the judges' scores from weeks one and two were added together Les Dennis and his partner Nancy Xu were bottom of the leader board, followed by radio star Nikita Kanda and her dance partner Gorka Marquez.

Tess Daly revealed the results of the public vote, combined with the judges score, meant Dennis and Kanda were both in the bottom two and must compete in the dance off.

On Saturday night Ballas had said if she was scoring in entertainment alone Dennis would score a 10.

Ahead of the dance off she told him: "Entertainment is your strength. Go out there and give it 100 per cent but you cannot make any mistakes. You are an entertainer."

Kanda and Marquez performed their Charleston to Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) by Beyonce once again, followed by Dennis and Xu's Samba to Rock The Boat by Hues Corporation.

The judges then had to choose who to save.

Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Kanda, saying: “The couple I would like to save and I think danced the best on the night and was the most improved, and that is Nikita and Gorka.”

Motsi Mabuse also chose to save Kanda, telling them: "Both couples danced better in the dance off. One couple was extremely better in the dance off. I will save Nikita and Gorka.”

And Anton Du Beke said: “I thought it was a competition of two couples on performance alone, who could really nail their performance and I thought the couple who did the best job was Nikita and Gorka.”

With three votes Kanda and Marquez were safe and it meant Dennis must leave the competition, but head judge Ballas confirmed that based on the dance off she would also have saved Kanda.

Dennis said: “I’ve had the best time, this lady has been amazing, a great teacher, she’s really put me through my paces."

He told dance partner Xu: "I did as well as I could for you, I hope! That lot up there [the other contestants] I’m going to miss you so much. I really appreciate and understand the judge’s point of view, absolutely."

And he added to Ballas: "Thank you so much for giving me a 10 for entertainment Shirley. I hope I’ve entertained, that’s what I came here for. Strictly is the best and the people who put this on, you’re just all amazing!

"And my wife Claire and Ellie, I'm really pleased that you're here as well."

Dennis married third wife Claire Nicholson in 2005. They are parents to daughter Ellie, 15, as well as a 12-year-old son.

Xu said: “It’s been a journey. This is such a short but a sweet journey. A lot of challenges we all know, but to see you."

She added to Dennis: "Every day improve yourself. I respect you so, so much. I just want to say thank you to the judges and all my fellow friends. Thank you Strictly Come Dancing for all of your support. Thank you Les.”

Dennis rose to fame as a primetime gameshow host, presenting Family Fortunes from 1987 to 2002. As an actor he has starred in sitcom Extras and appeared in Death In Paradise.

He starred in Coronation Street as petty crook Michael Rodwell from 2014 to 2016, when his character was killed off after suffering a heart attack.

Dennis was famously married to Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden between 1995 and 2003 and opened up about their split on Celebrity Big Brother in 2002,.

What else happened on Strictly Come Dancing week two?

The first Sunday Night Results show of the series also featured a dancing medley in tribute to the late singer Tina Turner, performed by Strictly 2022 finalist Fleur East, Beverley Knight and Laura Mvula, and featuring the Strictly professionals.

And singer songwriter Jorja Smith performed her song, Try Me.

Will we be back for more?

Fourteen celebrities return next week to compete for the Glitterball Trophy and will be performing cinematic themed dances for Movies Week.

Claudia Winkleman has already revealed comedian Eddie Kadi will be dancing to Men In Black by Will Smith.

Veteran newsreader and former Come Dancing host Angela Rippon will be dancing to Do Re Me from The Sound Of Music, and Emmerdale star Adam Thomas will be dancing to Mario Bros.

The other contestants will be announcing what movies they will be dancing throughout the week on shows including The One Show, Strictly: It Takes Two, BBC Breakfast and social media.

Strictly Come Dancing returns on BBC One at 6.20pm on Saturday, 7 October.

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Watch: Nigel Harman discusses his top scoring Strictly performance in week one