This article contains major Strictly Come Dancing spoilers.
Bethany Antonia has become the latest star to leave Strictly Come Dancing after winding up in the dance-off for the third time.
Despite finishing in the top half of the leaderboard during Saturday night’s live show, the House Of The Dragon star and her professional partner Nancy Xu failed to secure enough votes from the public to save them from the bottom two.
As a result, they landed in the dance-off with former Love Island winner Cach Mercer and his dancing pro Maddie Ingoldsby, who had been joint bottom of the judges’ leaderboard on Saturday night.
For the first time in this year’s series, the judges’ decision about who to save was not unanimous once both couples had performed again.
While both Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse wanted to save Bethany, Anton Du Beke cast his vote for Cach Mercer, leaving the decision up to Head Judge Shirley Ballas, who agreed with Anton.
Asked whether her time in the ballroom had been everything she hoped, self-professed Strictly Come Dancing superfan Bethany insisted: “It honestly was, I’ve had the most amazing time.
“It was our time [to go], and this week, to go out on this dance, and to feel the magic – to get to do this kind of routine and what it means, and what it stands for, on the night that we go out just means everything to me.
“And to get to do it with Nancy has just been a dream come true.”
To Nancy, she enthused: “You have brought out a side of me that I didn’t ever think I would get to see, and I’m going to miss you so much. But I’m so grateful for everything you’ve taught me.”
Just eight couples remain in the competition following the latest elimination, with Strictly Come Dancing returning to our screens on Saturday night at the slightly earlier time of 6.25pm on BBC One.
