Another Strictly shocker! Jake Wood becomes latest celebrity to leave ballroom dancing competition after losing out to Mark Wright in dance-off
He was thought to be a shoe-in for a spot in the Strictly Come Dancing final.
But EastEnders favourite Jake Wood lost out against TOWIE's Mark Wright during the dance-off on Sunday night's results show, paying the price for two nervous performances the previous evening.
The electric-hipped actor is the second shock exit from the BBC One programme in a row, following bookies' favourite Pixie Lott's surprise elimination last weekend.
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Heading home: Co-host Tess Daly comforted Jake Wood and his dance partner Janette Manrara as the EastEnders actor became the latest celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night
The judges were tied between the two pairings, leaving head judge Len Goodman to cast his deciding vote and eliminate Wood and partner Janette Manrara from the competition.
Jake, who plays love rat Max Branning in the BBC soap, said: 'It's a huge disappointment to go out in the semi-finals but for a 42-year-old dad of two, who's never danced before, Janette has worked wonders.
'It's been a real privilege to watch her work and she's so passionate about what she does that it's infectious.
Nervous: Jake and Mark Wright faced off in the dance-off and awaited the judges' verdict with baited breath
'I'd like to thank all the people at home who voted - it's just meant the world. And I'd like to thank my wife Alison and my two children Amber and Buster as well. Without their support I couldn't have done this.'
Wood's lacklustre cha-cha-cha and Viennese waltz in Saturday's double-dance night saw him move from a pre-show favourite to the bottom of the leaderboard.
He opted to go with his cha-cha-cha to Boogie Shoes by KC And The Sunshine Band in tonight's dance-off, while Mark and pro partner Karen Hauer went with their rumba to Eva Cassidy's version of Fields Of Gold.
Cha-cha-cha: The 42-year-old star failed to impress with his lacklustre performances on Saturday night
Twinkle toes: Despite never having danced before, Jake delivered consistently strong performances throughout the competition
After Craig Revel Horwood backed the Towie dancer, Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli opted to keep Wood in the show.
This left Goodman to use his casting vote and agree with Revel Horwood to send Walford's finest packing.
Len said: 'This is very difficult. The cha-cha-cha had little cha-cha-cha content and the rumba had little rumba content so in that respect it's a very level playing field.
'One was totally performance driven, the other was more about artistry and this is for me the toughest of all but I'm going to save Mark and Karen.'
Caroline Flack has now become the favourite to win next week's final, after her steamy salsa landed the first perfect 40 score of the series.
A maximum 10 from each judge for the second of her two dances with Pasha Kovalev saw the 34-year-old television presenter top the leaderboard as the audience - and social media - went wild.
The four finalist couples face a gruelling week, as they will have to perform up to three dances in the final, which will be split across two BBC One shows on Saturday night.
The first show will see them perform two dances, their favourite from the series and another chosen by the judges.
One couple will be eliminated at the start of the live second show, with the three remaining couples then performing another dance before the winner is revealed.
Take That, who this week appeared in the X Factor final last night, will also perform a medley of their hits during the Strictly final.
Missing out: As Jake heads home, Caroline Flack, Frankie Bridge, Simon Webbe and Mark are left to compete for the coveted Glitterball trophy
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2873653/Jake-Wood-latest-celebrity-leave-Strictly-losing-Mark-Wright-dance-off.html#ixzz3LuZEJugq
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