The second couple eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing has been revealed following a nail-biting dance-off.
TV presenter Ross King and his partner Jowita Przystal narrowly lost out in the bottom two against Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon during Movie Week.
Both couples performed their routines once more, with Ross and Jowita dancing their Paso Doble to the theme from Thunderbirds Are Go, iconic blue costumes included, of course.
Meanwhile, Balvinder and Julian performed a foxtrot to The Way You Look Tonight from the movie Swing Time.
After both couples had danced for a second time, the judges delivered their verdict, with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke choosing to save EastEnders actress Balvinder.
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Head Judge Shirley Ballas, who had the casting vote this week, said that she would also have chosen to save Balvinder and Julian, should she have been required to vote.
Ross, who is known for being the LA correspondent on ITV’s Lorraine and Good Morning Britain, was visibly emotional after learning he would be exiting the series.
When asked by Tess Daly about their time on the show, Ross said tearfully: ‘I have loved every single minute of it. I would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported us, all the people who voted – they’ve been amazing. I want to thank everyone here in this room, backstage, the judges, the crew – every single person here has made me so, so welcome.
‘And, I want to thank a very special lady who has been with me through it all and has been absolutely everything: she’s been a mentor, teacher, carer…’, (To which Jowita added “barista!”) ‘I could not have wished for a better partner, and I could not have wished to be on a better show. Thank you, judges, for all your remarks.’
Tess then turned to Jowita and said: ‘Jowita, you called Ross “Your King”,’ to which Jowita replied: ‘And I still stand by it! Thank you so much for all of your work.
‘For everything you have done during rehearsals. We laugh a lot – but we also cried! Thank you so much, and I hope I’m going to be a little part in your life forever.’
Following tonight’s results, Strictly viewers took to social media with their reactions, particularly shocked that one couple had landed in the bottom two.
‘Balvinder in the dance off, what the hell #Strictly’, wrote @Michaela_jayne1 on X.
‘I really thought Balvinder & Julian would be more popular. Looks like only us #EastEnders fans seem to be voting for her which is such a shame. She is brilliant and is improving every week’, added @RyanSoapKing25.
‘Ah god bless you Ross you’re brilliant’, wrote @RyanSoapKing25, showing support for Ross following his gracious exit.
Tonight’s results also featured a routine from Strictly’s professional dancers in celebration of the Minecraft movie, before Nancy Xu and Kai Widdrington provided a magnificent performance from Lang Lang of Reflection from the film Mulan.
Ross, who previously poked fun at how he was the favourite to be eliminated first, and Jowita are now the second couple to leave the BBC dance competition after Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden exited last Sunday.
The remaining 13 couples will take to the dancefloor next week in an attempt to top the leaderboard once more but this time, without Wicked lead Cynthia Erivo to coach them, after the Oscar nominee joined in a special guest judge role last night.
Strictly returns on Saturday, October 18, at 6:30pm, with the results show on Sunday, 19 October at 7:15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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