The Strictly Come Dancing celebrities took to the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Saturday night to perform a host of spellbinding routines - but it was the end of the road for one unfortunate star.
Week Nine certainly didn’t disappoint, as Pete Wicks performed a Cha Cha in neon pink to I’m Too Sexy, while Jamie Borthwick descended from the ceiling on a giant ketchup bottle, before delivering an impressive jive. Opera singer Wynne Evans and his partner Katya Jones were the eighth couple to be eliminated from the show following their charming Charleston, where they scooped 31 points.
Head judge Shirley Ballas hailed the routine a "Katya special", praising the ambitious lifts and moves, which she deemed "highly entertaining". The pair landed in the dreaded dance-off against Gladiators star Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe, with all four judges opting to save the latter couple.
Reflecting on his Strictly journey, Wynne said: "If I can come and do Strictly and last until week nine, then anybody can get out there and dance and have a brilliant time. Strictly is such a brilliant family, such a precious family, that I want everybody here in this room and at home to look after it for the generations to come because it is a wonderful, wonderful thing."
Katya added: "To be honest with you, the smile hasn’t left my face since the first day of our training, since the day we got partnered up. You (Wynne) have made this experience so joyous and so full of laughter for me. I’m sure everybody was jealous because you’re the kind of guy that everybody wants in their life."
Speaking on his Radio Wales show today, the GoCompare icon described his post-Strictly routine as "strange". He said: "It's a strange day. I've been institutionalised for so long on Strictly, rehearsing every day and now I don't have to do it. My feet are grateful, but my mind isn't."
Many viewers agreed with the judges' verdict, as one X user penned: "Right decision but I'm sad to see Wynne and Katya go. Katya's my fave pro and Wynne seems like a lovely man. I wish people wouldn't say "thank god for that", Wynne deserved his place in the competition as much as everyone else. I'll miss him."
While others voiced that he should have been saved, as another shared: "Such a shame to see Wynne go. So entertaining. I'm afraid I don't understand why people keep voting for Pete."
Earlier in the series, Wynne and Katya were caught up in controversy after what they called a "running joke" backfired. Katya defended her partner after she brushed off the arm he placed on her waist in the early weeks of this year's contest.
Viewers speculated that she looked uncomfortable but the couple insisted it was actually an inside joke. Following the Week Nine result, we want to know if YOU think Wynne should have been sent home on Sunday night. Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
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