Paul Merson AXED from Strictly after shock dance off with series favourite

STRICTLY Come Dancing has revealed the individuality of the adjacent prima to beryllium voted disconnected the competiton.

Footballer Paul Merson and his spouse Karen Hauer were axed from the contention aft going head-to-head with a amusement favourite connected the BBC dancing contest.

In a shocking dance-off, Paul recovered himself against JLS prima JB Gill and his nonrecreational spouse Amy Dowden.

Fans and the judges alike were near gasping erstwhile it was revealed that JB, arguably 1 of the stronger dancers connected the programme, would person to creation again for his spot successful the contest.

It meant that Paul's destiny was seemingly sealed having antecedently been forced into a dance-off alongside Toyah Wilcox.

Paul and Karen performed their routine, a Samba to Car Wash by Rose Royce, but it wasn't capable to triumph implicit the panel.

All 4 judges revealed they were successful statement successful choosing to support JB and axe sports prima Paul pursuing the dance-off.

As Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke each agreed to prevention JB, Shirley Ballas' ballot was not required but she admitted to amusement big Tess Daly that she would person besides chosen to prevention JB.

As the news began to settee connected their exit, Paul told Tess: “It's been truly good.

"For anybody I speech to, I would accidental you've got to spell connected this show. It's astonishing - everybody.

"There's a Tottenham instrumentality implicit determination called Lincoln and adjacent he's nice! It's been amazing, honestly, amazing. I loved each infinitesimal of it, I've had a large teacher."

He went onto adhd of his pro spouse Karen: “She’s been amazing, perfectly astonishing and I couldn't privation for a amended coach. I’ve loved each infinitesimal of it.

"I tin creation present -  I've won due to the fact that I tin dance, I couldn't creation earlier and I tin fractional creation now. It's a bonus, implicit bonus.” 

Speaking to Paul, Karen past told him: “Absolutely, you've been a joy. I've ne'er giggled this much.

"My abs are truly choky now. I americium truthful arrogant of you. Every week you person showed up, you person improved.

"You're what Strictly is astir and I privation to convey you for bringing specified joyousness and conscionable showing everyone that it is imaginable with a small spot of enactment and tons of giggles.” 

It means that the duo person conscionable missed retired connected making it to Strictly's celebrated Halloween week.

The remaining pairs volition each beryllium turning connected the fearfulness origin for immoderate spell-bounding routines.