BBC Strictly pro breaks down as co-star says goodbye in moving elimination speech
On Sunday night's Strictly Come Dancing, Angela Rippon and Bobby Brazier faced the dreaded dance-off.
Strictly: Angela Rippon is eliminated from the show
Strictly Come Dancing said goodbye to Angela Rippon tonight as she became the eighth celebrity eliminated from the popular BBC Saturday night competition following her performance during Blackpool Week.
This week brought the legendary broadcaster full circle as she used to host Come Dancing from the Tower Ballroom.
Meanwhile, pro partner Kai Widdrington had never made it to Blackpool week during his time on the show so fans were rooting for them to get that far at least.
Unfortunately, it proved the end of the road for the pair as they found themselves in the bottom two with EastEnders star Bobby Brazier and his partner Dianne Buswell meaning both couples had to perform in the dance-off.
Bobby and Dianne once again performed their Jive to Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham! while Angela and Kai performed their American Smooth to Tea For Two by Ella Fitzgerald in a bid to impress the Judges and remain in the competition.
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The result overwhelmingly went in favour of Bobby and Dianne with all four judges choosing to save them. However, Moti Mabusi described it as “one of the most beautiful dance-offs we have had.”
As the result was announced, both Angela and Kai seemed resigned to it as Tess Daly enquired about her time on the show.
“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,” Angela gushed.
“I have had the time of my life. 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] wasn’t even born then!
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"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."
“Everybody talks about the team and all the pros - everyone who has danced – 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," she admitted.
“It’s absolutely fabulous. They support us, they encourage us all the time – it’s absolutely wonderful.
“But the person who really has to get the most credit is this gentleman here [Kai].
“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!”
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
