Angela Scanlon became the ninth celebrity contestant to be sent home during Strictly Come Dancing's results show on Sunday night.
The Irish presenter and her dance partner Carlos Gu went up against Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin in the dance-off, with both couples fighting for their place in the competition.
After Layton and Nikita performed their American Smooth to 'It's Oh So Quiet' by Björk, Angela and Carlos took to the floor one last time with their Cha Cha to 'I Will Survive' by Gloria Gaynor.
Then it was time for the judges to give their verdicts. Whilst Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all chose to save Layton, head judge Shirley Ballas said she would have sent him home in favour of Angela.
© Guy LevyCraig said: "Technically for me personally, the better dance of the night, and the dance I actually enjoyed the most, was Layton and Nikita," while Motsi added that it was a "tough" dance-off. Explaining her decision, she said: "I based my decision on musicality and balance and that is why I will be saving Nikita and Layton.”
Agreeing with his fellow judges, Anton said: "Well I thought that was quite a tense dance-off, I don’t think either couple danced as well as they can."
He went on to say that it was "the closest dance-off we've had in the series so far", adding: "This is the only thing, I saw an error from one of the couples, so I'm going to vote to keep into the quarter-finals, Layton and Nikita."
© Guy LevyExplaining why she would have saved Angela, Shirley said: "Well important for me always when it comes to Ballroom and Latin is the character of the dance, that it’s true to the dance, timing and quality and I would have voted for Angela and Carlos."
SEE: Angela Scanlon's cutest mother moments with mini-me daughters
Chatting to the show's co-host Tess Daly in her post-exit interview, Angela opened up about her time on the show. "It's been honestly incredible," she said. "I'm gutted, really gutted that it's finished now, but it has been the most wonderful experience.
© Guy Levy"I have made the best friend in this man [to Carlos]. We have had so much fun, he is such an incredible guy. He has supported me and picked me up and made me laugh so much. I don't know what to say, it's been magical honestly – all of those people up there! My husband at home, my two little girls and all my friends!"
Carlos praised his celebrity partner for her hard work. "Her commitment and her strength every day, day by day – I'm a professional dancer and she works so hard, harder than me!" he said. "Look at her now – I am so proud, her sense of humour and we had so much fun everyday – she cracks me up laughing!"
© Guy LevyThe remaining five couples will return to the dancefloor next Saturday for Musicals Week. The live show will air on Saturday 2 December at 7.25pm, followed by the results show on Sunday 3 December at 7:20pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Every Strictly Come Dancing winner so far
- 2004: Natisha Kaplinsky (partner Brendan Cole)
- 2004: Jill Halfpenny (partner Darren Bennett)
- 2005: Darren Gough (partner Lilia Kopylova)
- 2006: Mark Ramprakash (partner Karen Hardy)
- 2007: Alesha Dixon (partner Matthew Cutler)
- 2008: Tom Chambers (partner Camilla Dallerup)
- 2009: Chris Hollins (partner Ola Jordan)
- 2010: Kara Tointon (partner Artem Chigvintsev)
- 2011: Harry Judd (partner Aliona Vilani)
- 2012: Louis Smith (partner Flavia Cacace)
- 2013: Abbey Clancy (partner Aljaž Škorjanec)
- 2014: Caroline Flack (partner Pasha Kovalev)
- 2015: Jay McGuiness (partner Aliona Vilani)
- 2016: Ore Oduba (partner Joanne Clifton)
- 2017: Joe McFadden (partner Katya Jones)
- 2018: Stacey Dooley (partner Kevin Clifton)
- 2019: Kelvin Fletcher (partner Oti Mabuse)
- 2020: Bill Bailey (partner Oti Mabuse)
- 2021: Rose Ayling-Ellis (partner Giovanni Pernice)
- 2022: Hamza Yassin (partner Jowita Przystał)
- 2023: Ellie Leach (partner Vito Coppola)
