EastEnders star booted off Strictly
EastEnders actor Ricky Groves was booted off Strictly Come Dancing tonight after admitting he 'mucked up' his routine.
And Olympic athlete Jade Johnson was also forced to withdraw from the series after failing to recover from a ligament injury she sustained in last week's dress rehearsal.
Groves, this week's lowest scoring contestant, predicted his own downfall after performing the Tango with dance partner Erin Boag.
He told the judges: 'You make mistakes, you've got to go, maybe it's my time to go.'
He said he was thrown off track after going wrong with the first few steps of the routine, adding: 'I'm not making excuses, I mucked up out there.'
Head judge Len Goodman said there were 'too many mistakes' and he 'kept going wrong', while Bruno Tonioli said the performance ended 'very, very badly'.
Craig Revel Horwood said there were 'obviously mistakes galore', adding: 'It was sterile and mechanical all the way through.'
Groves put in a more polished performance in the dance off when he came up against Footballers' Wives actress Laila Rouass.
It was the third week in a row in the bottom two for the actor, best known for playing cheeky Cockney Garry Hobbs in EastEnders, but this time the judges were unanimous in their decision against him.
Hollyoaks actor Ricky Whittle was the highest scorer of the night.
Johnson sustained a ligament injury in the dress rehearsal before last week's show when she heard her knee 'pop' as she tried to get up.
The long jumper, a two-times Commonwealth Games and European Championship silver medallist, is targeting a podium finish at the 2012 Olympics in London.
She pulled out of the BBC1 show amid fears that continuing in the competition could jeopardise her long term career.
She said: 'I'm a competitor and I don't give up easily so I'm absolutely gutted that it means that I can't continue dancing in the show.
'I've had a great time and really enjoyed learning to dance, and I am going to miss training with Ian (Waite) who has been a fantastic partner'.
Johnson stepped out of the running after a BBC physio and her management team advised her against taking part.
