Singer Jamelia said she was “sorry to go” as she became the eighth celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing.
The Loose Women panellist and her professional partner Tristan MacManus ended up in the dance-off alongside Peter Andre and his partner Janette Manrara.
Jamelia told presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman that her Strictly experience had been “fantastic”.
She said: “I’m sorry to go. I do have to say I’ve had the most fantastic time. I’ve made the most amazing set of friends, I’ve danced at the Tower Ballroom and I’ve danced with Tristan MacManus a million times.”
She added: “I just feel so fortunate to have had this experience and I hope that I’ve shown people that if you are determined and if you work hard then you can surpass whatever you think.”
The TV personality had been crowned “queen of the dance-off” after surviving the dreaded test for the bottom two celebrities for a fourth time last week, against broadcaster Jeremy Vine.
“I thought I was only going to get to week three and be gone, but I’m here at the Tower Ballroom and made it to Blackpool. I’m happy,” the 34-year-old said.
Jamelia also paid tribute to her dancing partner.
She said: “I’ve said it over and over again, I could not have had a better partner than Tristan.
“He’s so fantastic, so positive and he really has believed in me. It’s down to him why I’ve made it all the way to Blackpool, thank you.”
BBC One’s popular ballroom series made its annual trip to the famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
Saturday’s show produced a surprise as singer Peter, the bookies’ former favourite to win, finished the night bottom of the leaderboard with his jive to Tina Turner’s River Deep, Mountain High.
In the results show dance-off, judges Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Darcey Bussell voted for Andre’s jive over Jamelia’s quickstep, performed to I’m A Believer by The Monkees.
Head Judge Len Goodman’s vote was academic, but he said he would have saved Jamelia.
The singer told presenter Daly, “Thank you to yourself and Claudia and the judges. Thank you so much – because of you, I’m leaving here as a bit of a dancer.”
The show featured two special music performances. Take That performed their new single Hey Boy and singer Anastacia sang her hit I’m Outta Love.
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