Paul Merson's 'time is up' as he's dealt massive blow ahead of Strictly Come Dancing

The erstwhile footballer has antecedently said he'll bash 'everything helium can' to enactment successful the competition, but if the bookies are to beryllium believed, he'll beryllium leaving this weekend

Paul Merson's clip connected Strictly Come Dancing "is up", arsenic the prima is successful information of being eliminated from Strictly this weekend.

According to Ladbrokes, the erstwhile footballer is the wide favourite to permission the BBC creation competition, but the unit is besides connected for Punam Krishan and Wynne Evans.

Former England and Arsenal prima Merson is astatine 11/10 to get the axe, portion TV GP Punam is astatine 5/2 and opera vocalist Wynne astatine 5/1.

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: "There are 3 celebrities nether unit connected Strictly this week, but arsenic acold arsenic punters are concerned, Paul Merson’s clip is up."

It comes arsenic Paul, 56, admitted his clip connected the amusement could beryllium drafting to an end, vowing to bash everything helium tin to stat successful the competition. He said that he'll request to combat for his spot connected the BBC creation amusement much than ever, revealing he's already shed 2 chromatic successful value acknowledgment to aggravated grooming sessions with spouse Karen Hauer.

Speaking to The Sun newspaper's TV Biz column, Paul said: "I’m 100 per cent successful a ­relegation conflict due to the fact that the ­standards connected this year’s amusement are done the roof. Some of the different dancers are conscionable amazing. And present Toyah Willcox has gone, it volition beryllium hard for maine and I americium up against it. But I don’t look that acold ahead. I unrecorded successful the moment. I’m utilized to conscionable putting my boots connected and getting the occupation done. I won’t beryllium big-headed but that was my occupation — I was bully astatine football."

Despite not having overmuch of a creation background, Paul said that helium was pleasantly amazed with his performances connected the creation level truthful far. The sports star, who has been joined 3 times, said: "That ­surprised maine immensely. Honestly, I wasn’t exaggerating erstwhile I said I’d danced 3 times — erstwhile astatine each of my 3 weddings. I’ve improved a hundredfold. But that’s the full thought of the amusement — radical travel connected who person got 2 near feet and they effort to get amended and better."

During an quality connected Strictly spin-off amusement It Takes Two, Paul was asked by big Janette Manrara what it meant to him erstwhile helium got his highest people yet. Paul said: "It was astonishing conscionable to get a bully dance. Obviously a barbecue and Vindaloo and Football's Coming Home and looking similar idiosyncratic who works connected a ship... yeah, it was bully to dance. I thought Karen deserved that arsenic well, to beryllium just to her."

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