Yahoo News Strictly Come Dancing: Who danced their last dance in Blackpool Week?
Angela Rippon faced Bobby Brazier in the dance off and the judges all agreed which star should go home.
What did you miss?
Angela Rippon has twirled out of Strictly Come Dancing after being sent home in Blackpool Week.
The 79-year-old former Come Dancing host landed in the bottom two with EastEnders star Bobby Brazier at the famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
But the judges were all agreed after the dance off that it was Rippon who should leave the competition.
What, how, and why?
Rippon said she had had the "time of my life" dancing on the show and said it was incomparable to when she hosted Come Dancing as she was seeing another said to the show.
The former Nine O'Clock news anchor was the host of the original version of the dance competition show, Come Dancing, from 1988 to 1991.
The former newsreader said: "People keep making reference to the fact that I presented Come Dancing, but that was forty years ago, that was a different time! He [Kai Widdrington, her partner] wasn’t even born then! But actually being this side of the competition, this side of the programme has been really an eye opener for me in so many different ways. There is a real team spirit in this programme, unlike anything I’ve come across anywhere else in any of the many programmes I’ve done."
Rippon, who at 79 is the eldest competitor ever to take part in the dance show - performed the American Smooth to Tea for Two by Ella Fitzgerald with partner Widdrington. They were 28 out of 40 by the judges, putting them bottom of the leader board.
Brazier and his partner Dianna Buswell danced the jive to Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham!.
They were scored 35 out of 40, putting them join third and ahead of Nigel Harman and Katya Jones.
On learning he was in the dance off Brazier said: "If there's a place to do it then it's Blackpool!"
After both couples danced again Craig Revel Horwood chose save to Brazier, saying: "Well the standout performance for me that I can’t ignore and the couple that I would like to save - Bobby and Dianne.”
Motsi Mabuse also saved Brazier. She said: “I felt that both couples danced so beautifully. Really one of the most beautiful dance offs we have had, but I am going to save Bobby and Dianne.”
Anton Du Beke agreed: “Well again, I thought it was a marvellous dance off. Both couples danced very, very well. I thought Bobby and Dianne danced excellently again. I thought that Angela and Kai’s dance was beautiful and Angela even thanked one of the other dancers for lifting her and putting her down so gracefully which I thought was absolutely beautiful. But for me the couple I would like to save are Bobby and Dianne.”
Three votes for Brazier meant that Rippon was going home, but head judge Shirley Ballas confirmed: “I would also have saved Bobby and Dianne.”
Rippon said: “I have to tell you that the last nine weeks have probably been the most terrifying, the most fantastic, the most glorious, the most joyful that I have spent for a very long time in my profession. I've had the time of my life."
She said of dance partner Widdrington: “He’s an old soul on young shoulders. He’s 28 and I’m 79, there’s a 51 year difference in our ages. He has looked after me so brilliantly, he’s a wonderful dancer, a great choreographer, but he’s a terrific teacher… and he has the patience of a saint! All I can say is that you’ve got me here so don’t you dare cry!”
Widdrington was tearful as he hugged Rippon and told host Tess Daly: “Since week one when I met this amazing woman – as she said I wasn’t even born when she did Come Dancing, I had to ask my parents about the amazing Morecombe and Wise moment that was so famous, and about Come Dancing. Like Angela just said, there’s a 50 year age gap between us, but we’re like mates!"
Rippon famously dazzled with her high kicks when she performed with comedians Morecambe and Wise on The Morecambe & Wise Christmas special back in 1976.
What else happened on Strictly?
Professional dancers Nancy Xu and Carlos Gu led the other Strictly pros in a sparkling group dance to a medley of Harry Styles songs that rocked the famous Blackpool dancefloor.
Retired tennis player Annabel Croft, whose score of 35 put her in joint third place with Brazier on the leaderboard, admitted she was shocked to escape the dance off.
She said about the announcement: "There was a huge gasp actually. We all know how good Bobby is, so such a real shock."
Will we be back for more?
Six celebrity couples go forward to Week 10 of this year's competition, and thanks to tough judge Craig Revel Horwood everyone is still chasing that perfect score of 40 out of 40. Will next week be the one where Revel Horwood finally gets his 10 paddle out? Tune in to find out...
Strictly Come Dancing returns on BBC One at 7.30pm on Saturday.
Read more: Strictly
Strictly fans annoyed at Craig Revel Horwood over lack of 10 scores
Strictly 2023: The stars hit Blackpool but 40 points is still out of reach
Watch: Kerry Katona wants to take part in Strictly with female dance partner
