Rhys Stephenson has become the eleventh contestant to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing as he faced John Whaite in the dreaded dance-off.
Both couples performed their chosen routines again. Rhys Stephenson and his partner Nancy Xu performed their Samba to It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera) by Michael Bublé.
Then, John Whaite and his partner Johannes Radebe performed their Jive to Higher Power by Coldplay, in a bid to impress the judges and secure their place in the final.
After both couples had danced, the judges delivered their verdicts.
Craig Revel Horwood chose to save John and Johannes and said: "In all the years I’ve been doing the show since 2004, I really do not want to make this decision tonight.
"This has been one of the most amazing dance-offs I’ve ever witnessed. Both couples are equal and both couples deserve to go through and I just want to put both couples through.
I know I’m not allowed to do that so I have to choose. I’m going on the technical side and it’s to do with clean finishes. I’d like to put through to the final, John and Johannes."
Motsi Mabuse chose to save John and Johannes. She said: "Well, I think both couples deserve to stay in the competition but that is not how it works. For me this was a very difficult decision, but I’m going to save John and Johannes."
Anton Du Beke chose to save John and Johannes. He said: "Like Motsi and Craig, I’d have you both in the final quite frankly. Rhys came out and danced and I thought that would do for me.
"John came out and I thought, here we go. But then, you’ve just got to look at it and go, OK what do I like? For me tonight, in such an even contest, my nod goes to John and Johannes."
With three votes to John and Johannes, it meant they had won the majority vote, and Rhys and Nancy would be leaving the competition.
Head Judge Shirley Ballas said she would have agreed with her fellow judges, and saved John and Johannes.
Shirley said: "Yes, it was very close but I would have saved John and Johannes."
When asked by Tess about their time on the show, Rhys said: "I might not have gotten to the final but I learnt so much from just being on this show, from everyone here who’s just supported us in this new family.
"To have the time to spend with this champion of a dancer [Nancy] who’s put so much into me. Thank you for just letting my energy shine.
"Thank you for being that partner. I should use your actual name which is Xu YouJie. Thank you so much Nancy Xu YouJie, for just being there, being my rock and everything I needed to get through this. Thank you."
