After two weeks of glitz, glamour and a fair bit of hip-thrusting, Strictly Come Dancing fans had to say goodbye to the first contestant of the series. Judges Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel-Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas were left with the task of choosing which famous face would be sent home between David James and James Cracknell following the first dance-off of 2019. So without further ado, here’s who left.
“I’m enjoying it anyway, the luxury of being with someone so good and learning off them.
“I’m a way better dancer than I was two weeks ago. Luba’s been amazing with being so patient with a couple of left feet.”
Cracknell’s positivity was replicated by partner Mushtuk when the pair spoke to hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
Mushtuk said: “I would like to say a huge thank you with all my heart to make this journey so amazing.
“You (James) inspired me every day and I hope you inspire many more other people to start dancing.”
While Cracknell and Mushtuk were unanimously voted by the judges to go home, it was a bit closer at the top of the table.
After topping the leaderboard with his pulse-raising Samba in Week One, Emmerdale’s Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse finished Week Two in third place.
The pair racked up an impressive 60 points over the course of two weeks, narrowly pipping Dev Griffin and Dianne Buswell who received 57.
Above Fletcher and Mabuse was Michelle Visage and her pro dance partner Giovanni Pernice.
The pair racked up a commendable 62 points over Weeks One and Two.
It wasn’t enough for Visage and Pernice to go into the first public vote of the series top of the table, however.
CBBC presenter Karim Zeraoul and pro Amy Dowden topped the leaderboard with a staggering 63 points.
Elsewhere in the leaderboard, Saffron Barker and AJ Pritchard racked up 50 points while Anneka Rice and Kevin Clifton narrowly avoided the bottom two with 33.
Strictly Come Dancing continues every Saturday on BBC One.
