'It was easier playing in the World Cup than doing this!' Rugby player Ben Cohen is voted off Strictly Come Dancing... as Mark Benton scrapes through AGAIN
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Former England rugby star Ben Cohen has said playing in a World Cup final was easier than taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.
The 35-year-old was booted into touch from the ballroom contest on Sunday night after failing to out-tackle actor Mark Benton in the dance-off.
Cohen and his partner Kristina Rihanoff racked up just 27 points on Saturday - the lowest score of the night from judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, Darcey Bussell and Craig Revel Horwood - and the panel members stuck to their guns in the crunch head-to-head with Benton.
Time to say goodbye: Strictly's Ben Cohen hugs dance partner Kristina as they are voted off the show
Sad times: Kristina Rihanoff looks extremely sad to have been voted off the show
Saved: The judges decided that they would save Mark Benton instead of Ben
'It's harder than playing in the World Cup!' Former England rugby player Ben Cohen was voted off Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night
Footloose: Kristina Rihanoff ended the dance on a powerful note
But the ex-Northampton and England winger said he came into the competition with low expectations, and he believed if he was not voted off this week, he would have been sent home next round.
Speaking after his exit, he said: 'It's been a great experience and Kristina has been great. I said I was on borrowed time for a while and it has been an amazing experience.'
Asked how the contest compared to his illustrious career in rugby, he said: 'When it's your job playing rugby, you're really in your comfort zone, but when you're dancing you're completely out of your comfort zone.
'I've played in a World Cup final, a Heineken Cup final, but I found it easier playing in a World Cup final than being on Strictly.'
Scraping through: Mark Benton found himself put through by the judges for yet another week
News time: There was a tense moment on the show as it was the dancers awaited their fate
Back for another week: Mark Benton could not believe it when he was told that he would be coming back for another week
He did it! Mark Benton seemed thrilled to get through once again
Time of my life: Ben credited dance partner Kristina Rihanoff for making his time on the show so enjoyable
Cohen said a highlight of his time on the show was working with his dance partner Kristina.
'She's been thrown against a wall, elbowed, stood on, punched - but not on purpose - to make me look like I can dance to a song,' he said.
The former sportsman, who became a crowd favourite for characterful performances, hailed the audience for their support after his final performance.
'They jumped out of their seats,' he said. 'The crowd erupting was a nice reward for effort.'
The beast of the dancefloor: Ben became famous for his muscular physique and often shirtless routines on the show
Cohen admitted after years of being a professional rugby player, he had lost his competitive edge, and said his primary reason for taking part on Strictly was to raise the profile of his anti-bullying and homophobia charity, the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation.
Head judge Len explained his decision to eliminate Cohen: 'The thing was they both went wrong.
'For me, one couple made a small mistake and the others made two blatant mistakes and on that basis and on this performance I have to save Mark and Iveta.'
Cohen's partner Kristina told him: 'If there was a trophy for the most improved person it would go to you.
'You started at zero and have improved every week and you make me so proud every week and I've had the best, most rewarding time on Strictly.
'I took someone with no experience and I brought you here and you were amazing.'
Meanwhile, Saturday night's episode of Strictly drew its biggest audience of the series as it pulled three million ahead of rival The X Factor.
The BBC1 dance show had an average of 10.6 million, while its ITV competitor managed 7.7 million (including viewers on its catch-up +1 channel).
The X Factor saw its audience dip after going head-to-head with the 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who which was screened last night.
Strictly took a lead over X Factor early in the series but Saturday's gap between the shows was the biggest so far, and one of the lowest audiences for the Saturday night edition of the ITV show in recent years
The Doctor Who episode had an average of 10.2 million, which was among the biggest overnight ratings since the programme was rebooted by the BBC in 2005. It was the fifth highest figure since the show returned, beaten mainly by Christmas specials and the New Year's Day 2010 programme which saw Matt Smith make his debut as the Doctor.
Doctor Who's executive producer Steven Moffat said of the 10.2 million audience: 'I'm astonished and moved - and that's only the score so far, that's just the overnights.
'I speak from personal experience when I say that there's nothing better the morning after your 50th birthday than knowing you've still got it. Happy birthday, Doctor - go get 'em you old devil.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2512761/Strictly-Come-Dancing-2013-Ben-Cohen-voted-off.html#ixzz2lbW9v2C6
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