Kym Marsh and her professional dance partner Graziano Di Prima have become the 10th couple to leave Strictly Come Dancing after a closely fought musicals week.
Kym and her family can be so proud of her #Strictly journey, and she's gained an honorary member in Graziano 💕@msm4rsh @GrazianoDiPrima pic.twitter.com/JQ9kC6cZTH
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) December 3, 2022
They faced singer and actress Molly Rainford and her professional dance partner Carlos Gu in the dance-off after finding themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard with 34 points.
Marsh and Di Prima's energetic Eighties-style Cha Cha to Fame came after she missed last week's show due to a positive Covid-19 test.
After both couples had performed a second time during the dance-off, the judges delivered their verdicts, with only Anton Du Beke voting to save Marsh and Di Prima.
Head judge Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood all backed Rainford and Gu, who performed a Charleston to Hot Honey Rag from the musical Chicago.
After discovering her fate, Hear'Say and Coronation Street star Marsh spoke of wanting to make her father, who has been receiving treatment in hospital following a prostate cancer diagnosis, happy.
She said: "My dad has been so proud, and it's kind of kept him going.
"When he was in hospital last week, and obviously we weren't here, all these guys sent him videos, and it meant such a lot.
"My grandchildren are so proud."
Asked if she had any final words, Marsh added: "Honestly, I've loved every single second that I've been here. I never thought I'd get to this stage in a million years.
"I have to say, it's all down to this man (Di Prima) here. He is just wonderful, and he will be my friend forever.
"But what a journey it's been. This show is just wonderful. It shows you things about yourself you don't know. It shows you how tough you can be.
"Everybody, the crew, the celebs, the pros, costume, make-up, everyone is amazing. I've had the best time, so thank you."
Paying tribute to Marsh, Di Prima said: "I will be part of your family forever. I think we became friends from the very first day.
"I know you've learnt how to dance, but I have learnt so much from you. You are a warrior.
"You're going to be in my heart forever. We're going to be together many times, because I know I have found a friend for life."
The remaining five couples - Rainford and Gu, Fleur East and Vito Coppola, Will Mellor and Nancy Xu, Helen Skelton and Gorka Márquez, Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał - will take to the dancefloor for the semi-final.
The semi-final will air on BBC One on Sunday 11 December and Monday 12 December.
The #Strictly Semi-Final is hitting your screens next Sunday and Monday! Send this to a friend who needs a reminder ✅ pic.twitter.com/myjc8N6Jyl
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) December 3, 2022
Source: Press Association
