Strictly Come Dancing saw another couple eliminated on Sunday night, with DIY SOS star Nick Knowles and professional partner Luba Mushtuk becoming the latest pair to leave the competition. The result came after a tense dance-off, which saw them go head-to-head with Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu.
Knowles and Mushtuk had scored 21 points for their Movie Week Charleston, placing them near the bottom of the leaderboard. Despite returning to the dance floor following a knee injury sustained during a dress rehearsal the previous week, the judges unanimously chose to save Ward and Xu, ending Knowles' stint on the show.
Reacting to the decision, Knowles said: 'I've really been surprised by how much I've loved doing it.' He added: 'Two things happen: one, is how much you care each week, and the other is how much you don't want to let down your partner. The only reason I could do this this evening was because of Luba's changes.' Summing up his partner in three words, he stated: 'She did amazing.'
An emotional Mushtuk praised Knowles' 'determination' and thanked him, while Knowles also expressed gratitude to the production staff for helping him through his injury. The father-of-three had previously injured his shoulder while changing a car tyre, requiring a sling during training.
Last week, Knowles missed Movie Week after falling during dress rehearsal and needing crutches. His return for Saturday's show marked a brief comeback before elimination. Strictly Come Dancing returns next Saturday at 6.25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
