BBC Strictly star's three-word reply as they're axed from show in heart-wrenching twist

Tonight, another celebrity was voted out of Strictly Come Dancing - and many fans will be feeling for them after a tough dance-off.

Strictly Come Dancing's results show aired tonight, resulting in another celebrity leaving the competition after a nail-biting dance-off.

Last week, we saw singer Toyah Willcox say her goodbyes to the BBC series, after she and dance partner Neil Jones found themselves in the bottom two against Paul Merson and Karen Hauer.

The previous episode also witnessed three-time Olympic champion Tom Dean and his professional dancing partner Nadiya Bychkova being the first pair to be voted off the dance floor.

Now, the most recent pair have had to hang up their dancing shoes following last night's show, which saw Love Island's Tasha Ghouri and partner Aljaz Skorjanec leading the pack.

The dances that scored the lowest were Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk's much-anticipated Movie Week Charleston, which bagged them 21 points, and Dr Punam Krishnan and Gorka Marquez's Jive, which put them at the bottom of the pile with 20 points.

However, it was Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu who joined Nick and Luba in the dreaded dance-off, sealing the DIY SOS star’s fate.

Shayne and Nancy were placed in the middle of the leaderboard for their Cha Cha, so it came as no surprise when the judges unanimously voted for them to stay in the competition.

Upon hearing the judges’ decision to send him home, Nick said: "I've really been surprised by how much I've loved doing it."

He went on to explain: "Two things happen: one, is how much you care each week, and the other is how much you don't want to let down your partner.

"The only reason I could do this this evening was because of Luba's changes."

Summing up his partnership with Luba on the show and the way she was able to adapt to his injury in three words, he stated: "She did amazing."

Luba went on to praise Nick's "determination" as she held back tears and told him: "Thank you."

Nick’s elimination was particularly brutal, given that the star had only just returned to the competition following a serious injury.

One fan wrote on Twitter (X): "Heartbroken for @MrNickKnowles & Luba. He's had the worst luck in this competition. Getting 2 injuries but coming back stronger full of determination and not wanting to give up. Nick is what this show is all about! You've made your son proud." (sic)

Another added: "Feel a bit sorry for Nick and Luba as suspect had they done that dance on movie week as planned it may have all been different #strictly though not sure who would have left instead." (sic)

"I can’t help but feel bad for nick. having an injury and not being able to compete last weekend, to coming back and losing the dance off this week. but i’m glad he got to perform it the right way and didn’t let the injury make him leave last week," one more penned. (sic)

While other fans felt the outcome was fair, with one writing: "Nick eliminated from #Strictly I do wonder if having a that week off didn’t help him. Didn’t he have 2 injuries in his time there. I wouldn’t say he is the worst dancer in the competition BUT it wasn’t his night last night." (sic)

The DIY expert’s future on the show had been hanging in the balance ahead of Saturday’s live show, as he wasn’t sure if he’d be cleared by doctors to go back on the dance floor.

His most recent accident left him on crutches and forced him to miss out on Movie Week last weekend, which is why he returned to do the Rain On The Roof routine from the Paddington 2 with Luba last night.

Nick’s accident had occurred during last week’s dress rehearsal when he fell out of a jump and sustained an injury to his knee.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Nick also previously hurt his shoulder away from rehearsals when he was just changing a car tyre.

While he managed to struggle through that week’s dance, he was forced to wear a sling for several training sessions.

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Strictly Come Dancing returns next Saturday at 6.25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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