In one of the most dramatic eliminations of this year's Strictly Come Dancing, former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was sent home despite delivering his best performance to date, leaving viewers and judges stunned.
The 52-year-old football pundit and his professional partner Jowita Przystał found themselves in the dreaded dance-off against Love Island star Amber Davies and her partner Graziano Di Prima, despite Jimmy achieving his highest score of the series.
The Dance That Wasn't Enough
Jimmy and Jowita had wowed the judges earlier in the evening with an energetic Charleston to 'Bills, Bills, Bills' by Destiny's Child, earning them an impressive 31 points from the judges. The routine showcased Jimmy's growing confidence and technical improvement, with Craig Revel Horwood calling it his "best dance by far."
However, when the public vote was combined with the judges' scores, the couple found themselves facing elimination in the bottom two against Amber Davies, who had scored 30 points for her elegant American Smooth.
The Fateful Dance-Off
Both couples reprised their performances in the tense dance-off, with Jimmy and Jowita delivering what many considered an even stronger version of their Charleston. Amber and Graziano also improved their American Smooth, setting up a difficult decision for the judges.
In a surprising turn of events, the judges voted unanimously to save Amber Davies, sending the former Premier League star packing. Head Judge Shirley Ballas explained that while both couples had improved, she had to base her decision on "the best technical performance."
An Emotional Farewell
An emotional Jimmy told host Tess Daly: "I've had the most amazing time. I've loved every second of it. Jowita has been an incredible teacher - patient, kind, and so talented. I've made a friend for life."
He added: "To go out on my best dance is something I can be proud of. I've loved challenging myself and stepping completely out of my comfort zone."
Professional partner Jowita fought back tears as she praised her celebrity partner: "Jimmy has been an absolute joy to teach. He worked so hard and improved every single week. I'm so proud of what we achieved together."
The elimination marks the fourth celebrity departure from this year's competition, leaving eleven couples remaining in the battle for the Glitterball Trophy.
