Jacqui Smith has become the first celebrity to be voted off this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
The former Labour MP and her dance partner Anton du Beke found themselves in the bottom two alongside Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer on Sunday night’s results show.
The judges’ scores this week were added to those from last week, and were then combined with the results of the viewers’ votes to decide the lowest scoring two couples.
Both then had to perform again in the dreaded dance off, with Jacqui and Anton performing their Samba to Help Yourself by Tom Jones, and Jamie and Karen performing their American Smooth to Night and Day by Frank Sinatra in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition.
But it was Jacqui who lost out after all three judges voted to save Jamie.
After both couples had danced a second time the judges delivered their verdicts:
Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Jamie and Karen, saying: “Based purely on dance merit and what I thought was the better dance of the evening, I’d like to save Jamie and Karen.”
Motsi Mabuse also chose to save Jamie and Karen.
She said: “First of all I’d like to say that both couples did very well, I felt that both couples picked up a notch this time. I just have to say that for me personally I think that one couple was a little bit on a higher level so I’m going to save Jamie and Karen.”
Head Judge Shirley Ballas said she would also have chosen to save Jamie and Karen.
When asked by host Tess Daly about her time on the show, Jacqui said: “I had the greatest adventure it’s possible to imagine. I’m just sorry I can’t continue it with this man who has been absolutely fantastic and gorgeous to be with.
“But I don’t feel too much shame in losing to these guys because they are a fantastic bunch of dancers, they really are. So I’ll be watching you and supporting you.
“To Anton I would like to say you have been just an absolute joy to be with. I am so pleased and proud to have spent this time with you. And to everybody on the programme I don’t think people realise just how brilliant the team is that put this programme together and if ever we need Strictly, we need it now so thank you so much.”
Anton said he’d “loved every second of being in the studio” with Jacqui.
“We have laughed, you have a shocking sense of humour I can’t begin to tell you,” he said. “You are just the best and I’ve loved it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
The remaining eleven couples will take to the dance floor next week for a Movie Special, when Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One at 7.25pm.