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Sunday, October 30, 2011

Strictly Come Dancing's Nancy Dell'Olio says goodbye after weeks at the bottom of the scoreboard

End of the line for Nancy: Strictly Come Dancing's 'walking disaster' says goodbye after weeks at the bottom of the scoreboard



By Kirsty Mccormack

Last updated at 8:35 PM on 30th October 2011




She may have risen from the dead last night, but Nancy Dell'Olio was still feeling gloomy as she was voted off the Strictly Come Dancing floor tonight.

The Italian businesswoman became the fourth contestant to leave the reality show after she failed to wow the judges and the public with her attempt at dancing the Rumba.

The 50-year-old and her dance partner, Anton du Beke, found themselves at the bottom of the scoreboard yet again after receiving just 14 points and it seemed that their luck finally ran out.


Going, going, gone: Nancy Dell'Olio and Anton du Beke were the fourth couple to be kicked off of Strictly Come Dancing tonight
Going, going, gone: Nancy Dell'Olio and Anton du Beke were the fourth couple to be kicked off of Strictly Come Dancing tonight

Nancy had been clinging on to a place in the BBC1 dance contest despite constant criticism from the panel and it seemed that last night's Halloween special was her last chance to impress the four judges.

But she wasn't holding any grudges following the news that she would no longer be taking to the dance floor.


Gutted: The Italian-American looked disappointed once she realised that she was going home
Gutted: The Italian-American looked disappointed once she realised that she was going home




Comforting each other: The pair immediately hugged one another and Nancy mumbled something to Anton
Comforting each other: The pair immediately hugged one another and Nancy mumbled something to Anton

When asked what she would miss about her Strictly experience, Nancy said: 'Let me think about it...I will miss many moments, of course. It has been such a full on experience.


'I am going to go back to the rest of my life, but of course I'm going to miss a lot of it. I've had a lot of fun, it's been an incredible experience.'


'Going to miss you': Anton told the star that he had really enjoyed dancing with her on the competition
'Going to miss you': Anton told the star that he had really enjoyed dancing with her on the competition

And it seems that although she may not be dancing for the public every weekend now, the brunette is still going to continue practicing her footwork.

'It has given to me quite a lot, meeting incredible people, and learning dancing ... partly!' she said.


Goodbye: Nancy hugged her dance partner as they realised their fate and was comforted by host Tess Daly
Goodbye: Nancy hugged her dance partner as they realised their fate and was comforted by host Tess Daly

'I'm definitely going to keep dancing, because it is fantastic exercise, not only physically but for the mind, for everything, so I definitely will.'

Although the judges won't miss watching Nancy's two left feet, someone who admitted they were genuinely upset about her departure was her partner, Anton.


Head-to-head: The dancing couple were up against boxer Audley Harrison and his professional partner Natalie Lowe
Head-to-head: The dancing couple were up against boxer Audley Harrison and his professional partner Natalie Lowe

'What a night this has turned out to be,' he said after learning the result.

'I tell you what I'm going to miss the most. I'm just going to miss Nancy,' he added.

But to let the star know that he meant it, he turned to her and said: 'I'm going to miss you. You are a superstar. You are absolutely lovely. I have had the most lovely time.'

Last night the property lawyer and former girlfriend of one-time England soccer manager Sven-Goran Eriksson thought that climbing out of a silver sparkly coffin would add glamour to her dodgy performance but it seemed this was just another factor for the judges to mock.


Risen from the dead: The 50-year-old chose to begin her routine in a coffin as she danced to Dusty Springfield's Spooky
Risen from the dead: The 50-year-old chose to begin her routine in a coffin as she danced to Dusty Springfield's Spooky

Pompous professional, Craig Revel Horwood, told her: 'The moment you stepped out of that sarcophagus was the moment it went horribly wrong.'

However Len Goodman described the pair's dance to Dusty Springfield's Spooky as having 'moments of Mills and Boon, and moments of meals on wheels.'

Keeping in with the Halloween theme, Nancy wore a white and silver spiderweb dress and looked worn out after finishing the routine.

But Alesha Dixon still thought she looked great telling her: 'Nancy, I think you're a sexy woman and you know how to work it but I have to be honest, you are a walking disaster.'

'And the lift, Anton the lift was so unflattering,' she added.

'You both should have stayed in the coffin. But, having said that, I'm sure the viewers at home will love it.'


'Walking disaster': The pair were criticised following their performance on last night's show
'Walking disaster': The pair were criticised following their performance on last night's show

However the singer couldn't have been more wrong as when Nancy went head-to-head with boxer Audley Harrison and his partner Natalie Lowe tonight, it was her who was sent packing - coffin and all.

Talking about the sportsman being in the bottom two, Len told host Tess Daly: 'The Jive is tough so I am disappointed, but I had a feeling that he might find himself there tonight, because that dance is all about being compact and sharp.'

As half of the contestants breathed a sigh of relief after discovering that they were safe in the competition, Claudia Winkleman had a word with them.

Speaking to Alex Jones, she asked her how she felt after learning that she was still in the competition to which the TV presenter replied: 'I am delighted. We're having such a great time but I was worried it was going to come to an end.'

Claudia then turned her attention to Chelsee Healey and commented on her wardrobe malfunction the night before.

'I feel a bit daft about it now,' the Waterloo Road star said. 'I was nervous to begin with and when that happened it just really upset me.'

However this may not be the end of Nancy's career on the small screen, as she recently revealed that she is going to land her own TV star.

Speaking on the Graham Norton Show, she told the comedian host that she is 'preparing' for a programme.


'Flat footed': Audley Harrison found himself in the bottom two after the judges told him that the dance wasn't suited to his build
'Flat footed': Audley Harrison found himself in the bottom two after the judges told him that the dance wasn't suited to his build

The star - who has already written an autobiography - said: 'My life is quite busy with a few things - I'm writing two books and I am preparing my TV show.'

But when she was asked more about the upcoming show, she was not prepared to give any more details.

'I'm probably doing it, but I am not going to say more,' she added.

During her interview Nancy admitted that she was not the most skilled figure on the dance floor.

'My public says whether I win or not but I probably am not a great dancer,' she told Graham during the show -which is to be shown tonight.

But regardless of her dancing, the public certainly made an effort to tune in last night to watch the celebrities battle it, as the BBC said the show had 'an average audience of 10.2 million viewers, or a 42.7% share.'

The 15 minute peak for the programme at 7.45pm saw a figure of 11.3 million - which the channel were certainly pleased about.

'We are delighted that more and more viewers keep tuning in to watch Strictly Come Dancing,' a BBC spokesman said.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2055387/Strictly-Come-Dancing-2011-Walking-disaster-Nancy-DellOlio-says-goodbye-weeks-the-scoreboard.html#ixzz1cJiHi7EN