Strictly’s most shocking semi-final eliminations ever from EastEnders star to GMB favourite who sparked romance rumours
STRICTLY Come Dancing fans are in for a treat as the competition heats up in preparation for the final soon.
But not every contestant managed to secure a place in the Strictly final history books.
Some couples who looked like they were waltzing to the grand finale were surprisingly given the boot in the semi-finals.
Many famous faces including EastEnders star Jake Wood to Good Morning Britain’s Ranvir Singh narrowly missed out on getting their hands on the glitterball trophy.
Here is a rundown of the celebrities who were pipped to the post.
Ranvir Singh
Political reporter Ranvir, 45, said goodbye to her chances of winning when she was eliminated with pro partner Giovanni Pernice and became the seventh celebrity to be voted off the BBC show.
Ranvir failed to impress the judges with her Waltz – which resulted in her losing her place in the competition.
Meanwhile, fans at the time were left fuming that Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing, 34, managed to survive his fourth dance off – which resulted in the presenter being voted off.
Ranvir had set tongues wagging with her sizzling on-screen chemistry with the Italian hunk.
To further add to the romance rumours, Gio has affectionately kissed his partner’s head while listening to the judges’ feedback on the finale night and he had openly called her a “beautiful princess” on social media.
After her departure, Ranvir paid tribute to the Italian hunk with a gushing post on Instagram.
She wrote: “Sadly it was not to be – but what a way to go.. on a beautiful Waltz that got a score of 8,9,9 on the semi-final of @bbcstrictly I couldn’t have done anymore!
“My incredible partner – you @pernicegiovann1 tried your best to get me to the final and I’m just disappointed for you. I adore you.
“My feet are relieved to not be punished anymore and although my heart is a little sad for tonight – I am genuinely proud of what we achieved from below zero ability and confidence to start with to feeling magical in the Paso, Foxtrot, the American Smooth, Argentine Tango, Viennese Waltz, and a classic Waltz.
“With a Cha cha and Jive squeezed in for good measure. Thank you to everyone @bbcstrictly for allowing me to be part of the show and thank you to everyone who voted and supported us for the last two months.
“What a privilege to be part of a show that gives so much joy to the country in this year of 2020.”
Chris Ramsey
Comedian Chris Ramsey’s elimination in 2019 was also a shock when after he performed a showstopping Rumba.
EastEnders actress Emma Barton, CBBC star Karim Zeroual and ex-Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher secured a place in the final, while Chris and dance partner Karen Hauer were knocked out of the BBC One competition in the semi-final.
They lost their chance of getting their hands on the glitterball following a dance-off with Zeroual and Amy Dowden.
The couples performed in front of judges Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.
Judges opted to save Zeroual, saying he was the “best dancer” and that the pair’s routine was “brilliant”.
Ramsey, who has become a household name since joining the show, said he is “very proud of myself” to have got so far.
“I never ever thought I would make it past week two, genuinely I had no expectations whatsoever,” he said.
“I am astounded and I’ve got to thank Karen – she is just amazing and so patient it’s crazy!
“I had sleepless nights in the build up and there is no-one else who can have made it what it has been.”
Jake Wood
Swapping Albert Square for the dancefloor, Jake Wood dazzled the judges with his hip-shaking moves, but his time was eventually up when he went up against former Towie star Mark Wright in the dance-off.
The EastEnders star was the eleventh celebrity to leave the BBC competition with his professional partner Janette Manrara in 2014.
Jake and Janette performed their cha cha cha to “Boogie Shoes” by KC and the Sunshine Band in the dance-off while Mark and his dance partner Karen Hauer opted for their rumba to “Fields of Gold” by Eva Cassidy.
The judges were divided, with Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli both choosing to save Jake.
While Craig Revel-Horwood saved Mark, leaving head judge Len Goodman with the deciding vote, and ultimately saved the Essex reality star.
Jake described going home in the semi-final as a “huge disappointment” but praised Janette for “working wonders” on his dancing skills.
“I don’t have enough words to say how proud I am of him,” Janette added.
“He’s been an absolute pleasure to work with – so driven, so focused.”
Mollie King
Another shock exit was The Saturdays star Mollie King in 2017.
The singer and her partner AJ Pritchard became the 11th couple to be eliminated after facing Gemma Atkinson and Aljaž Škorjanec in the dance-off.
Mollie and AJ chose to perform their Waltz to Angel by Sarah McLaughlin again for the judges, after it picked up 32 points.
After both couples had danced again, judges Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Shirley Ballas voted unanimously to save Gemma and Aljaž.
Speaking to host Tess Daly after the result was announced, Mollie said: “Firstly congratulations to Gemma and Aljaž because they danced their socks off and totally deserved to be there and congratulations to all the finalists, they’re so incredible and good luck, I can’t wait to watch you all, so go out there and get it!
“I have so many thank yous. Thank you to everyone who has voted us through to the semi-finals, it’s so far beyond what we ever thought that would happen; I’m so so grateful for that.
“Thank you to all the professionals, you have been so much fun and so encouraging.
“Thank you to the judges, you have just been unbelievable and I will forever remember everything that you said and I will take it on board when I’m dancing at home or wherever I’m dancing.
“And to Tess, Claudia and Zoe, you have been amazing, you have been so so just lovely and above all, AJ, you have been just incredible and you have been my hero for the last couple of months so thank you so much. I couldn’t have done any of it without you.”
AJ added: “I want to say thank you so much for being in training and literally spending all the time working so hard and always willing to try everything and performing every single night as if it’s your last.”
Lisa Riley
Emmerdale star Lisa Riley, 46, became the tenth celebrity to leave the dancing competition and missed out on a place in the grand final after losing the dance-off to Denise Van Outen in 2012.
She kept the audience entertained from the start but her and partner Robin Windsor’s American smooth to All That Jazz from the musical Chicago wasn’t enough to save them.
Lisa was in tears as she received a standing ovation from the judges and the studio audience.
Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Denise “purely based on technique,” while Darcey Bussell said: “This is so hard but yes, technically, the ones I’m going to save are Denise and James.”
Bruno also echoed the other two judges and saved Denise.
“It’s been the best time of my entire life, I can’t thank you enough,” Lisa said in her exit speech.
“From the costume to the makeup, everybody backstage is just beyond belief, and all the judges, I’ve had the time of my life.
“And one person has made that and that’s Robin Windsor. He has just been amazing.
“What you don’t all know is having me as a partner is a really, really tough ask and every week, week in week out he’s done it…and he’s helped me through one of the toughest times of my life.
“I owe every inch of Strictly to him, he’s just amazing.”