Seventh couple eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing after judge brands routine ‘plonky’

Will Best and professional partner Dianne Buswell have been eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing, narrowly missing out on a place in Blackpool week.

The 41-year-old Big Brother presenter and Buswell, 37, repeated their paso doble to Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat on Sunday, having scored 27 during Saturday’s live broadcast.

They had been left at the bottom of the judges’ leaderboard alongside Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley, as well as Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola, before the public votes were tallied.

Best and Buswell found themselves in the dance-off against actress Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu, who held third place on the leaderboard after scoring 33 for their Charleston to Catherine Zeta-Jones’s “I Can’t Do It Alone”.

Judge Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and head judge Shirley Ballas voted to save Winstone and Gu, sending them through to Blackpool, while Anton Du Beke cast his vote for Best and Buswell.

Best was told by Ballas on Saturday’s live show that he was one of the programme’s “most consistent” dancers.

Will Best and Dianne Buswell repeated their paso doble to Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat on Sunday’s results show after scoring 27 on Saturday’s live show
Will Best and Dianne Buswell repeated their paso doble to Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat on Sunday’s results show after scoring 27 on Saturday’s live show (PA)

However, Revel Horwood called the routine “plonky”.

The professional dancers performed a romantasy-inspired group number on Sunday’s results show, which featured the voice of The Traitors US host Alan Cumming.

Celebrity Traitors winner Sebastian “Bash” Croft performed his new single, “Everything Always Now”, accompanied by a routine from dancers Julian Caillon and Jowita Przystal.

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Best has presented shows for Channel 4, ITV and the BBC and in 2023 began co-hosting the ITV revival of Big Brother alongside AJ Odudu, herself a Strictly contestant in 2021. They hosted a Celebrity Big Brother spin-off in 2024.

He is also a presenter on Hits Radio and last month became a father to Sonny with his partner Tobi Rose.

Best and Buswell will join Ellie Taylor on Strictly – It Takes Two on Monday at 6.30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

Strictly Come Dancing continues with is Blackpool Tower Ballroom special on Saturday at 6.35pm on BBC One.