'Strictly Come Dancing' finalists: Find out who made the 2020 final

Strictly Come Dancing has named its 2020 finalists, with four celebrities in the running to lift the glitterball trophy next weekend.

Ranvir Singh was the unlucky contestant voted out at the end of the semi-final with her dance partner Giovanni Pernice.

That leaves Bill Bailey and Motsi Mabuse, Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez, HRVY and Janette Manrara, and Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer in this year’s final.

It was a split vote between Singh and Pernice and their rivals Laing and Hauer, who were facing their fourth dance off, as the judges could not agree on who to send home.

Both couples found themselves in the bottom two, but with Craig Revel Horwood choosing to keep Laing in the show and Motsi Mabuse opting for Singh, it fell to head judge Shirley Ballas to cast the deciding vote.

Ballas said: “I just feel that one couple had a little more determination, a little bit more ‘I’m not leaving without that trophy’ and with that in mind I’m saving Jamie and Karen.”

Talking about the result, Singh said: “I’m just really sorry for (Giovanni), he’s worked so hard and been in so many finals that I’m really sorry I couldn’t do it for you. Sorry.”

Pernice replied: “You don’t have to be sorry at all, we’ve both worked very hard, you’ve been an absolute dream to work with.”

The pair had been rumoured to be dating throughout the series, but had laughed off any stories of a romance.

Singh went on: “I’m sad not to be in the final. But at the same time, I am glad that we’ve moved people to tears and the Argentine Tango was an amazing moment.”

Pernice told her: “Yes, you’ve grown as a dancer, but more I hope you feel happier in your life because you deserve it.”

Watch: Craig Revel Horwood talks filming Strictly in lockdown

In Saturday night’s live episode, Singh was moved to tears by a surprise message of support from her Good Morning Britain colleague Kate Garraway, who has recently been absent from TV while her husband Derek Draper recovers from a tough battle with COVID-19.

After watching the video message, she said: “We all know what she’s going through, she typifies what everyone’s going through this year, so it’s so wonderful that she found time to think of me.

“That is her all over, thank you so much to Kate, that meant so much.”

The results show also featured a performance from Little Mix, who are still performing as a trio while Jesy Nelson takes an extended break from the band for medical reasons.

Bailey’s partner Mabuse is the defending champion after winning the last series with Kelvin Fletcher, a stand-in celebrity who replaced Laing after he injured his foot in the launch show.

Laing has returned this year with a different partner, Hauer, so will compete against his original partner in the final.

Janette Manrara has made it to the final for the first time in her eight years on the show, dancing with popstar HRVY who is the only celebrity to have scored two perfect 30s in his dances so far.

Smith and Marquez finally notched up a perfect score in the semi-final, putting them at the top of this week’s leaderboard - and Smith becomes the show’s youngest ever finalist at 19 years old.

The Strictly 2020 grand final will air on Saturday from 6pm on BBC One.

Watch: Who are the Strictly contestants?