Yorkshire Post

Silverton makes Strictly exit after dance-off in Blackpool

-

KATE SILVERTON is the latest celebrity to be booted from Strictly

Come Dancing, waving goodbye to the series during Blackpool Week.

The newsreader and dance partner Aljaz Skorjanec faced former cricketer Graeme Swann and Oti Mabuse in the dance-off after their scores combined with the public vote put them in last place.

Silverton and Skorjanec performed their American smooth to Everlastin­g Love by Love Affair again, while Swann and Mabuse repeated their theatre and jazz routine to The Trolley Song from the film Meet Me In St Louis.

The judges unanimousl­y chose to save Swann and Mabuse, leaving Silverton and Skorjanec to waltz away from the dancefloor.

Silverton, 48, told her dance partner: “As your student I couldn’t be more grateful it’s been a magical experience.

“We enjoyed our training days probably more than even the Saturdays sometimes. We’ve had fun and I’ve been learning new skills.

“Aljaz is one of life’s more special people and we’ve become such good friends. It has been a journey without trying to sound like a cliche. It’s been brilliant to be part of.

“I knew I’d enjoy it. I don’t normally make decisions based on anything other than joy. I hoped it would be joyful and gleeful and it was.”

The BBC news anchor said that she hopes she keeps dancing now that her Strictly journey is over.

Paralympia­n Lauren Steadman and AJ Pritchard, who had come at the bottom with just 25, avoided the dance off entirely, thanks to the public vote.

Former Pussycat Dolls star Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev scored the first 40 points of the series for their jive. Meanwhile, Strictly Come

Dancing had a boost in the ratings, thanks to its annual Blackpool episode. Saturday night’s programme drew an average of 10.2 million viewers and a peak of 11.3 million in the overnight ratings, the BBC said.

 ?? PICTURE: GUY LEVY/BBC ?? FAREWELL: Kate Silverton and Aljaz Skorjanec were unanimousl­y voted off Strictly Come Dancing by the judges.
PICTURE: GUY LEVY/BBC FAREWELL: Kate Silverton and Aljaz Skorjanec were unanimousl­y voted off Strictly Come Dancing by the judges.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom