Lee Ryan latest star to be voted off show

Lee Ryan was given his marching orders from Strictly Come Dancing after his cha cha cha failed to impress.

The Blue singer, 35, and his professional partner Nadiya Bychkova were in the dance-off with Charles Venn and Karen Clifton after judges’ scores were combined with viewers’ votes.

He said of his exit: “Even though it’s been short, it seems like I’ve been here a long time because it’s been so intense. It’s been amazing.”

Ryan, who performed a cha cha cha to The Power of Love from the film Back to the Future in movie week, said: “I love these guys. I absolutely love every single one of them. There’s so much love in everyone. It’s been a memory that I will treasure for the rest of my life.”

Bychkova gushed: “Just stay the way you are because you’re such an amazing person and I love you so much.”

Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli chose to save Casualty actor Venn and his dance partner Clifton, saying they had been “the better dancers”.

Ryan is the second celebrity to get the boot this series, after Susannah Constantine was first to go. He was the favourite to leave after surviving last week’s dance-off.