19 November 2023 , 20:00
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Strictly Come Dancing aired its eighth elimination on Sunday night amid the show's iconic Blackpool week.
During the results show, Angela Rippon became the latest star to depart the show after she faced Bobby Brazier in the dreaded dance-off. Angela, 79, and pro partner Kai Widdrington performed their American Smooth to Tea For Two by Ella Fitzgerald while Bobby, 20, and pro partner Dianne Buswell performed their Jive to Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham!
However, despite both couples dancing beautifully, the judges unanimously decided to save Bobby and Dianne, meaning Angela and Kai would be leaving the competition. Craig Revel Horwood said of his choice: "Well, there’s a standout performance for me that I can’t ignore and the couple that I would like to save are Bobby and Dianne" while Motsi Mabuse explained of her decision: "I felt that both couples danced so beautifully. Really one of the most beautiful dance-offs we have had. I am going to save Bobby and Dianne."
Strictly Come Dancing aired its eighth elimination on Sunday night amid the show's iconic Blackpool week (BBC/Guy Levy)Elsewhere, Anton Du Beke said: "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. For me the couple I would like to save are Bobby and Dianne" while Head Judge, Shirley Ballas, added: "I would also have saved Bobby and Dianne!"
Speaking after her fate was decided in the competition Angela thanked pro partner Kai and defended her past experience. She 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.
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"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! 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. 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 [to Kai]."
During the results show, Angela Rippon became the latest star to depart the show (BBC/Guy Levy)Angela continued: "He’s [Kai] 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 [to Kai] got me here so don’t you dare cry! He and his partner, Nadiya, are in every sense of the word beautiful people and I am so pleased to have you in my life."
To which Kai sweetly said: "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!
"Dancing with you [to Angela] the whole way through this competition has just been such a celebration of yourself and her life and I wish she could see me now. I’m so proud of you [to Angela] and you should be proud of yourself, it’s been my absolute honour and pleasure to dance with you, especially in this beautiful ballroom."
It comes as fans expressed their anger last week claiming that the judges' decision to save Angela following the dance-off was a 'fix'. Angela and her professional dance partner, Kai, were saved over Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Lauren Oakley by three out of four judges. Fans claimed that the judges kept Angela in just for Blackpool week due to her heritage of hosting Come Dancing.