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Steve Backshall leaves Strictly

BBC Strictly Simon

Online Team

Hunky wildlife expert, and all-round nice guy Steve Backshall is the eighth contestant to leave Strictly Come Dancing.

Steve and dance partner Ola Jordan found themselves in the dreaded Dance Off for the first time after they were left rock-bottom of the leaderboard with 23 points on Saturday night. They were asked once again to perform their American football-inspired Jive to ‘Little Bitty Pretty One’. They were joined in the Dance Off by Sunetra Sarker and her partner Brendan Cole, who had to perform their Waltz to Paolo Nutini’s ‘Last request’.

The final verdict went to head Judge Len Goodman’s casting vote, following a split decision from the other Judges, with Craig and Bruno choosing to save Sunetra and Darcey choosing Steve.

Len said that he had to save Sunetra and Brendan because they performed “the cleaner dance” on the night and they “were the better couple”.

Gracious and articulate to the end, Steve gave an emotional speech saying “he was bursting with pride” at how all of his fellow dancers had progressed, and he went on to say,

“That’s why everyone loves Strictly, it’s this incredible, uplifting experience of seeing people doing something positive and seeing that anyone can learn how to dance and get great joy from it.”

Watch our exclusive video of our Strictly stars saying goodbye to Steve and then say farewell on the blog below.

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