The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
DJ Odoom is movin’ on out of Strictly role thanks to votes
Departure: Pair’s tango won them the fewest viewer votes on Saturday’s show
Melvin Odoom has become the first celebrity to be booted off Strictly Come Dancing.
The presenter and DJ and his professional dance partner Janette Manrara were given their marching orders after receiving the fewest votes from viewers.
Odoom said the experience had been “a blessing” despite his early departure.
The pair, who performed a Tango to Movin’ On Up by M People on Saturday’s show, were due to face singer Anastacia and her pro partner Brendan Cole in the dreaded dance off after the first public vote was combined with the judges’ scores.
However, an injury that forced Anastacia to perform a modified routine during Saturday’s instalment kept her off the dancefloor altogether in the results show.
This meant the couple with the fewest viewer votes were eliminated.
A Strictly Come Dancing spokesman said: “There was no dance off tonight due to a confirmed injury.
“As per the Strictly Come Dancing rules, if the dance off cannot go ahead then the result reverts to the viewer vote.”
When asked by host Tess Daly about his time on the BBC show, Odoom said: “I just need to say, every single person on this show; the contestants, the dancers, the production, the judges, everyone is absolutely amazing.
“It’s a blessing to be on the show and thank you for Janette, it’s been a great experience for me, thank you!”
Anastacia, who underwent a double mastectomy in 2013 after being diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time, said she was sorry to see Odoom leave the competition.
“I danced on Saturday even though the doctor had advised me to rest after I ripped the scar tissue around where I had my double mastectomy,” she said.
“After that, I was unable to dance again and I was devastated that I couldn’t take part in the dance off.”