Strictly's Helen Skelton said she was experiencing mixed emotions after her friend and co-star Ellie Simmonds was voted off the show.
Countryfile presenter Helen, who is competing on the BBC show together with professional dancer Gorka Márquez, said she was "so sad" to see Ellie go but grateful that fans helped them get through another week. Helen and Gorka impressed the judges and audience with a jive to Tightrope by Janelle Monáe while Ellie and Nikita were forced to go head-to-head in a dance-off with Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu.
Sadly, their Charleston to Too Darn Hot from Kiss Me Kate was not enough to save them. Co-stars Helen and Gorka took to social media to thank fans for their support and to pay tribute to the pair.
In a video posted on Helen's Instagram story, dance partner Gorka said: "That was intense." To which Helen replied: "It's such a weird emotion because we are so happy and grateful to be through, so thank you, thank you so much for all the support and messages and voting.
"Tonight proves nobody's safe. Ellie and Nikita were so good and they bring so much to the competition. It'll be very sad when they are not here next week. So sad."
She added: "We'll do what we can next week to make sure you'll have a good time."
Helen also wrote a message to fans on Twitter: "THANK YOU …. So grateful for your messages and for keeping us in another week. Loved that jive, grateful for another week."
And Gorka wrote on Instagram: "So thrilled to get through another week! Honestly thank you so much to each one of you who voted for us and for your messages of support! We wouldn’t be in the competition without you. We are going DES-PA-CITO to week 8."
It comes after Strictly Come Dancing viewers called for a change to the BBC contest's format after a crying Ellie Simmonds was eliminated on Sunday night's results show. The former Paralympian swimmer wept openly on the results show as she was voted off by judges.
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