West is eighth celebrity eliminated from Strictly after Blackpool special
Tyler West has said his experience on Strictly Come Dancing has given him confidence and a “new-found family” as he became the eighth contestant to leave the show after a competitive weekend in Blackpool.
Following Saturday's live show, which saw the BBC competition return to the town’s prestigious Tower Ballroom for the first time since 2019 after a break due to the pandemic, the Kiss FM DJ found himself in the dreaded danceoff against Molly Rainford.
During the results show, West reprised his salsa to Megamix by KC and The Sunshine Band alongside his partner Dianne Buswell in a bid to impress the judges.
For his original routine on Saturday, he secured a score of 35 after performing challenging lifts while donning an afro wig and flared trousers.
Meanwhile, singer and actress Rainford and her partner Carlos Gu again performed their jive to Bandstand Boogie by Barry Manilow, which had also achieved 35 points previously and Anton Du Beke had described it as “tremendous”.
After both couples had danced for a second time, three out of the four judges chose to save Rainford, sending West packing.
Craig Revel Horwood said he felt both couples danced "so much better" and that for the first time this series he was finding it difficult to choose, but he finally opted to save Rainford and Gu.
Motsi Mabuse agreed the second performances were better but said she was basing her decision to save Rainford and Gu on technique styles and presentation.
Du Beke said he felt both couples could have “easily made the final” but chose to save West and Buswell as he felt they were “more dynamic”.
Head judge Shirley Ballas had the deciding vote, noting “this is probably one of the most difficult dance-offs that we've ever had to choose”.
In the end, she saved Rainford and Gu, explaining: “Both couples were outstanding, both improved their performances but I am going to go with what I believe in, and that is a quality of movement and precision in partnering.”