Victoria Pendleton loses out on Strictly gold

The TeamGB cyclist and partner Brendan Cole lost out to fellow sports star Michael Vaughan in a dance-off

Victoria Pendleton performs on Strictly before being voted off (PA)

Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton has become the latest celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing.

She and her partner Brendan Cole lost a dance-off against former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan and Natalie Lowe after the judges' scores were combined with the results of the viewers' votes to decide the lowest scoring two couples in the latest round of the BBC show.

Judge Craig Revel Horwod chose to save Vaughan, saying: "Well this couple completely smashed and I thought they were fantastic, Michael and Natalie."

His colleague Darcey Bussell also chose Vaughan, saying: "Yes, I am going save Michael and Natalie."

Bruno Tonioli made the same choice, saying: "I am going to save the best performance, and that came from Michael and Natalie."

Pendleton, who had the lowest judges' score on Saturday night, when she and Cole received only 21 votes out of 40 for a salsa to Robbie Williams' Candy, said: "It's been so much fun. I have loved every second of it. It pushed me totally out of my comfort zone which I think you really need to do in life.

"Brendan has been fantastic, the people behind the scenes here - the hair, make-up. I love the costumes. It's been a fantastic experience."

Cole said: "It's been an emotional roller-coaster but I said from the start I was so excited to be paired with Victoria and I haven't changed my mind. She has been a diamond to work with.

"What a girl. She is the pride of the nation and I couldn't be happier or prouder of you for the way you have attacked it."

On Sunday's results show the Strictly professionals took to the floor with dance troupe Flawless, while Irish rockers The Script also performed.

PA