Yahoo News 'Strictly': Who was voted out and who is through to the semi-final?
Strictly Come Dancing has announced its 2021 semi-finalists after Dan Walker became the latest celebrity voted out of the competition.
The BBC Breakfast presenter has had a tough time in the BBC One series, receiving abusive messages on social media after fans voted him back in each week.
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Walker and Nadiya Bychkova were voted out by all four judges in a dance off against AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington which gave Odudu the chance of a second try at a disastrous lift that had put them in last place.
Dan the dancer has come so far, with the brilliant Nadiya guiding him through every step. A partnership to be proud of! #Strictly pic.twitter.com/hrO6vReNvA
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) December 5, 2021
Speaking after the vote, Walker said: “By the way I would have saved AJ and Kai as well!"
He added: "When I go back to the first day when I was asked to dance in front of some glitter balls, at that point, if there had been a fire exit, I’d have just walked away.
"But this amazing woman grabbed me by the hand, and brought me out onto this dance floor. I’m not a dancer, but she showed me that I can dance, and that for me, this has been an absolutely incredible experience."
I feel like Nadiya finally ARRIVED this series and Dan deserves some credit for that. Yes they stayed 3 weeks longer than they should have but there was something really endearing about their partnership #Strictly
— Sid (@HertsSid) December 5, 2021
#strictly Dan is so incredibly gracious. He never deserved the hate he's received. But it's the end of the line, quite rightly.
— Hannah #reclaimthestreets (@Brazenvamp) December 5, 2021
Dan Walker is such a gentleman. He has done himself, his family and Nadiya proud. #Strictly
— lori sutton (@lori_sutton) December 5, 2021
Walker said of his dance partner Bychkova: "There are some people who walk into your life and turn some lights on, and that’s what she has done to me. You’re an amazing person, and if you’ll have me, you’ll have a friend for life Nadiya Bychkova.”
The pro dancer replied: “Like he said, sometimes the right person walks into your life at the right time and that’s what happened. You always encourage everyone, you always have time for everyone, it just inspires me to be a better person myself. Thank you.”
In Saturday night's live show, TV presenter Odudu had been left in tears by the final lift of her routine which went wrong and had to be abandoned.
But she had another chance to get it right in the dance off, showing how it should have looked.
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Judge Craig Revel Horwood said: "Dan I think you did such a great job in the dance off, that’s the best I’ve ever seen you dance, ever! AJ, you totally nailed that last bit, that was fantastic."
Anton Du Beke added: "It’s a thing to make the quarter-finals of Strictly Come Dancing, and to pick this year of all years, to make the quarter-finals would have guaranteed you a place in the final in any other year."
Watch: Dan Walker says 'I don't expect everyone to like me'
