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Strictly Come Dancing results: Steve Backshall sent home after dance-off with Sunetra Sarker

The TV presenter thanked partner Ola Jordan for her professionalism

Daisy Wyatt
Sunday 23 November 2014 21:00 GMT
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Steve Backshall has become the eighth celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing
Steve Backshall has become the eighth celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing

Steve Backshall has become the eighth celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing.

The TV presenter and his dancing partner Ola Jordan found themselves in the bottom two after facing the dance-off against Sunetra Sarker and Brendan Cole.

But Steve and Ola’s American football-inspired jive to “Little Bitty Pretty One” was not enough to keep them in the competition.

Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli chose to save Sunetra and Brendan, while Darcey Bussell disagreed and chose to save Steve and Ola instead.

Casting the deciding vote, Len Goodman said: “My heart goes out to both of the couples in the dance off, to come out and give it all they had – the couple that were the cleanest and for me the better couple on tonight’s performance – Sunetra and Brendan.”

Steve thanked Ola for her support and talent. “I’ll be gutted to go but the first thing I have to say is to this extraordinary lady, walking out on Blackpool Ballroom floor with all that nostalgia and history, with a dancer of your calibre, being taught to dance by you is an experience I’ll never forget and I am so, so privileged by that,” he said.

He added that the best part of his experience was getting to know his fellow contestants. “The absolute highlight of this adventure for me has been seeing all these people who have become really good friends of mine and seeing what they have achieved,” he said.

Sunday’s results show featured a special performance by Barry Manilow with Strictly’s professionals Aljaž Skorjanec and Joanne Clifton dancing alongside.

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday 29 November at 7pm.

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