Shayne Ward has become the seventh celebrity contestant to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing after a tense dance off.

The X Factor singer found himself in the bottom two with Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans, after failing to impress on Saturday with his rumba.

The Coronation Street actor and his dance partner Nancy Xu scored just 30 out of 40 for the technically difficult Latin dance, leaving him at the bottom of the leaderboard.

The 40-year-old was forced to dance again in front of the judges on Sunday night before they delivered their verdicts.

Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse voted to save the musician, while Anton Du Beke preferred Wynne and Katya Jones’ American Smooth.

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Shayne Ward’s dancing journey has come to an end after receiving the lowest results on Saturday night and landing in the dance-off against Wynne Evans

The Coronation Street actor and his dance partner Nancy Xu scored just 30 out of 40 for their Rumba, leaving him at the bottom of the leaderboard

It left head judge Shirley Ballas with an agonising decision. She ultimately decided to give her deciding vote to Wynne, which meant that Shayne departed the competition.

Asked by presenter Tess Daly about his exit, he said: ‘I just want to say, you guys up there [the other contestants] are a dream. Every single day, coming in here and seeing you guys you helped me so much.

‘I want to say thank you to the audience as well, for always being amazing for us all. This has been, honestly, one of the best things I’ve ever done.’

He added: ‘I’m proud that I made it to eight weeks as a novice dancer. A massive thank you goes to this incredible human right next to me [Nancy], who has put so much fire in me and made me believe that I can actually achieve more if I let myself go.

‘I’m sorry it didn’t work out to the end, but I’m super proud that I got to meet you [to Nancy] and dance with you, so thank you.’

Nancy, who last year danced with Les Dennis, said: ‘I’m beyond proud of this dance partnership. Shayne from week one until this point, every second you put your feet on the dancefloor you improved yourself.

‘You’re a deep thinker, you always doubt yourself, you never believed yourself, but I never ever questioned you. 

‘When I watch you, I feel proud because I’ve turned someone who has never ever danced in their life into an amazing dancer. You should believe in yourself. I adored this partnership.’

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Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse voted to save the musician, while Anton Du Beke preferred Wynne and Katya Jones’ American Smooth

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Shayne gushed: ‘I’m sorry it didn’t work out to the end, but I’m super proud that I got to meet you [to Nancy] and dance with you, so thank you’

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The cast all huddled around the latest couple to leave the competition as they said their goodbyes

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Nancy said: ‘I’m beyond proud of this dance partnership. Shayne from week one until this point, every second you put your feet on the dancefloor you improved yourself’

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Scooping the same top score of the evening was JB Gill and partner Lauren Oakley and Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and partner Aljaz Skorjanec (pictured)

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But it was Pete Wicks that left BBC viewers in tears during his emotional performance which paid tribute to his nan

Shayne and Nancy were at the bottom of Saturday’s leaderboard alongside Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas for their moody Argentine Tango.

Meanwhile scooping the same top score of the evening was JB Gill and partner Lauren Oakley and Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and partner Aljaz Skorjanec.

But it was Pete Wicks that left BBC viewers in tears during his emotional performance which paid tribute to his nan.

The former TOWIE stary, 36, was incredibly close to his nan Doreen who died in 2022. He previously described her passing as ‘the hardest time of his life’.

Pete and his dance partner Jowita Przystal performed their routine to The Best, a song originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler and made famous by Tina Turner.

The reality star was praised by the judges for his performance and received his first perfect 10 score from Shirley Ballas who said his dance made her emotional.

Next Saturday the remaining eight celebrities – including Miranda actress Sarah Hadland, blind comedian Chris McCausland, and JLS singer JB – will head to the Blackpool Tower for a special episode live from its iconic ballroom.