| By Tony McMenamin, Homepage Editor |
Strictly Live: Week 9
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Actress Cherie Lunghi became the ninth celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing, even as the judges praised her "breakthrough" performance. Like Heather Small, she won praise for her improved performance.
Casting the deciding vote, head judge Len Goodman said: "This is terrible. "I feel as thought I'm kicking someone off the show because neither should be going, but I have to base it on that last performance, and for me the couple that edged it were Lisa and Brendan." Her partner James Jordan begged viewers to change the way they were voting after broadcaster John Sergeant sailed through to next week's show on a wave of public support, despite coming bottom of the score table. "This is supposed to be a dance contest," he said. "Please, please, people at home vote for the dancing. I think Cherie had a lot more to show."
The Strictly fave competed with presenter Lisa Snowdon and her partner Brendan Cole in the dance-off to stay on the programme. However John Sergeant has defended his continuing presence on the show, telling the Daily Mail: "It is funny how judges both in real life and on Strictly Come Dancing lose touch with the views of ordinary people."
Excellent
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