Gymnast Claudia tumbles out of Strictly
SHE has jumped, spun and even cartwheeled in her bid to make it to the Strictly Come Dancing final.
But it wasn’t quite enough for Olympic gymnast Claudia Fragapane as she was eliminated at the final hurdle on last night’s show.
The 19-year-old, with her partner AJ Pritchard, lost out to favourite Danny Mac and his partner Oti Mabuse in a dance-off after finding themselves bottom after Saturday’s public vote.
For the dance-off, Miss Fragapane and Pritchard performed their quickstep from Saturday’s show but it was not enough to see off Mac who danced an American Smooth with Miss Mabuse.
The judges voted unanimously to save the actor but were not short of praise for Miss Fragapane, who competed at the Rio Olympics this year.
Craig Revel Horwood said: ‘Well both couples I have to say in that dance-off were worth tens equally so it is so difficult, but I would really like to save Danny and Oti.’
Darcey Bussell said: ‘Both performed to such an outstanding level tonight and it makes it very hard to choose between but the couple that had a small edge over the other were Danny and Oti.’
Bruno Tonioli added: ‘Well first I would like to congratulate you because you were both excellent but I have to go with the couple that had an edge in artistry and emotional impact and for that reason I choose Danny and Oti.’
It means Mac will now compete with former singer Louise Redknapp and BBC presenter Ore Oduba at Saturday’s live final to be crowned this year’s Strictly champion. Last night, Miss Fragapane said: ‘It’s amazing to be in the semi-finals, I never knew I was even going to make it this far and AJ has been so good in talking to me about technique and teaching me all these details and I can’t thank him enough.
‘He has just been an incredible person and has really given me a massive confidence boost in life and in general as well.’