Strictly Come Dancing contestant Will Mellor has been eliminated from the show just a week before the show’s grand final.
Will and his professional partner Nancy Xu were not saved by the judges after a combination of their scores and the viewers’ votes saw them fall into the bottom two alongside Fleur East and her professional partner Vito Coppola.
Both couples performed their favourite routine of the night again. Will and Nancy performed their Couples’ Choice to a 90s Manchester inspired medley, while Fleur and Vito performed their Charleston to Tu Vuo’ Fa L’Americano by Fiorello.
After both couples had danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts.
Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Fleur and Vito for being “the most impressive” of the two dance off participants. Motsi Mabuse also chose to save Fleur and Vito but noted that it had come down to “micro details”.
However, Anton Du Beke chose to save Will and Nancy due to “an error in a dismount from a lift”. With two votes to Fleur and Vito, and one to Will and Nancy it meant Head Judge Shirley Ballas had the casting vote, and she decided to save Fleur and Vito.
Tess asked Will if he had any final words, Will said:
“I have to thank you all for giving me this chance to put a smile on my mums face, she deserves it. I’ll take whatever I have learnt from this show forward in whatever I do because it shows you can achieve more than you think. I didn’t think I’d be able to get anywhere near this and I am so proud of what we have achieved but also everybody who has voted for me, who has supported me, the messages I’ve had from my local community and children. Thank you all so much, we really, really appreciated every bit.”
Nancy added: “I want to thank everyone who works on the show, it’s an incredible show, I’ve had such an amazing journey. The support from the whole team is just phenomenal. I’m proud of the partnership, we’ve had such an amazing journey together. I really wish I could make more memories with you and your family.”
Tonight’s result show also saw Lewis Capaldi perform his latest single Pointless, alongside a stunning routine from professional dancers, Giovanni Pernice and Katya Jones.
The remaining four couples will take to the dancefloor next week for the final time as they bid to lift the Glitterball Trophy when Strictly Come Dancing: The Final will air live on Saturday 17th December at 7.15pm, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
