EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick and his professional dance partner Michelle Tsiakkas have missed out on a place in the Strictly Come Dancing quarter-final as they became the ninth couple to leave the show.
Borthwick and Tsiakkas faced the dreaded dance-off against Olympian Montell Douglas and her professional dance partner Johannes Radebe during Sunday's results show.
Borthwick and Tsiakkas reprised their graceful Foxtrot to Ben E King's Stand by Me, which landed them a score of 32 from the judges during Saturday's live show.
Judge Anton Du Beke told the actor that he is a "beautiful dancer" but advised him to be more "ridiculous" and "over the top" following his performance on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Douglas and Radebe performed their Quickstep to Ella Fitzgerald's Get Happy again in a bid to impress the judges.
They had received a score of 37 for the routine on Saturday with Du Beke saying it was their best performance since their Couple's Choice.
However, Craig Revel Horwood thought it looked "a bit stiff" at the beginning but felt the dynamics were "out of this world".
After both couples had danced a second time, the judges unanimously agreed to save Douglas and Radebe, sending Borthwick and Tsiakkas packing.
Reflecting on his time on the show, Borthwick hailed Strictly Come Dancing as "magic" and praised those who work on the series.
He said: "Not just everyone who you see in front of the camera, these four here (the judges), but everyone who works on this show, I have such a good bond and relationship with and that's what made me want to do this show. It's the people, not what I'm doing. I've had the best time."
The actor, who was the first celebrity partner for Tsiakkas on the show, praised her as being the "most amazing teacher".
"We have laughed like you wouldn't believe. I have nothing but the utmost respect for everyone on the show, so thank you," he added.
Tsiakkas returned the sentiment, saying: "Jamie is an amazing dancer, and he's improved so much week by week.
"He's worked so hard to get to where he is. It's my first year with a partner and I've realised that it's so much more than just the dancing and the technique, it's the bonds and the friendships that you make.
"I waited two years for a partner and I wouldn't have had it any other way."
Sunday's results show featured a performance from girl group Sugababes who sang a medley of their hits including Freak Like Me and Push the Button.
The professional dancers also delivered a passionate performance to Zara Larsson's With Every Heartbeat.
The remaining six couples will take to the dancefloor on Saturday for the quarter-final with the live show returning to BBC One on Saturday 30 November at 7:05pm and the results show airing on Sunday 1 December at 7:20pm.
Source: Press Association
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