Angela Rippon is the eighth celebrity to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2023
On Saturday night, the remaining couples took to the beautiful Blackpool Tower Ballroom in the hope of impressing our Strictly Judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge, Shirley Ballas and the voting public. The sparkling show opened with an all singing, all dancing group number featuring all of our remaining couples, professional dancers and the Judges, setting the tone for an extraordinary night in the iconic Blackpool Tower.
This weekend, Angela Rippon became the eighth contestant to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing as she faced Bobby Brazier in the dreaded dance off.
Both couples performed their routines again. Bobby and his dance partner Dianne Buswell performed their Jive to Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham! Angela and her dance partner Kai Widdrington performed their American Smooth to Tea For Two by Ella Fitzgerald in a bid to impress the Judges and remain in the competition.
After both couples had danced in the iconic Tower Ballroom for a second time, the Judges delivered their verdicts:
Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Bobby and Dianne.
Craig said: “Well, there’s a standout performance for me that I can’t ignore and the couple that I would like to save are Bobby and Dianne.”
Motsi Mabuse chose to save Bobby and Dianne.
Motsi said: “I felt that both couples danced so beautifully. Really one of the most beautiful dance offs we have had. I am going to save Bobby and Dianne.”
Anton Du Beke chose to save Bobby and Dianne.
Anton said: “Well again, I thought it was a marvellous dance off. Both couples danced very, very well. I thought Bobby and Dianne danced excellently again. I thought that Angela and Kai’s dance was beautiful and Angela even thanked one of the other dancers for lifting her and putting her down so gracefully which I thought was absolutely beautiful. For me the couple I would like to save are Bobby and Dianne.”
With three votes to Bobby and Dianne, it meant they had won the majority vote and would be staying in the competition regardless, however Head Judge Shirley Ballas also said she would have decided to save Bobby and Dianne.
Shirley said: “I would also have saved Bobby and Dianne.”
When asked by Tess about her time on the show, Angela said: “I have to tell you that the last nine weeks have probably been the most terrifying, the most fantastic, the most glorious, the most joyful that I have spent for a very long time in my profession.
“I have had the time of my life, people keep making reference to the fact that I presented Come Dancing, but that was forty years ago, that was a different time! He [Kai] wasn’t even born then! But actually being this side of the competition, this side of the programme has been really an eye opener for me in so many different ways. Everybody talks about the team and all the pros – everyone who has danced – there is a real team spirit in this programme unlike anything I’ve come across anywhere else in any of the many programmes I’ve done. It’s absolutely fabulous. They support us, they encourage us all the time – it’s absolutely wonderful. But the person who really has to get the most credit is this gentleman here [to Kai].”
“He’s [Kai] an old soul on young shoulders. He’s 28 and I’m 79, there’s a 51 year difference in our ages. He has looked after me so brilliantly, he’s a wonderful dancer, a great choreographer, but he’s a terrific teacher… and he has the patience of a saint! All I can say is that you’ve [to Kai] got me here so don’t you dare cry! He and his partner, Nadiya, are in every sense of the word beautiful people and I am so pleased to have you in my life.”
Kai said: “Since week one when I met this amazing woman – as she said I wasn’t even born when she did Come Dancing, I had to ask my parents about the amazing Morecombe and Wise moment that was so famous, and about Come Dancing. Like Angela just said, there’s a 50 year age gap between us, but we’re like mates!”
“Dancing with you [to Angela] the whole way through this competition has just been such a celebration of yourself and her life and I wish she could see me now. I’m so proud of you [to Angela] and you should be proud of yourself, it’s been my absolute honour and pleasure to dance with you especially in this beautiful ballroom.”
The results show on Sunday night was bursting at the seams with glitz and glamour, the evening was opened by our professional dancers turning the Ballroom purple with a memorable routine to a Harry Styles medley, plus a performance from Madness singing their new song ‘C’est La Vie’ with a beautiful dance from Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Jowita Przystał, Gorka Márquez, Michelle Tsiakkas and Neil Jones.
The remaining six couples will take to the dancefloor next when Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday 25th November at 19:30, with the results show on Sunday 26th November at 19:20 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Strictly – It Takes Two
Angela and Kai will be joining Fleur East for their first exclusive televised interview live on Strictly It Takes Two on Monday 20th November at 18:30on BBC Two.
