Chris Ramsey became the latest celebrity eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night, narrowly missing out on a spot in the final.
The comedian, 33, and his professional dance partner Karen Hauer, 37, were given the boot after they landed in the bottom two against Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden.
Despite his departure, Chris told presenter Tess Daly he was ‘astounded’ to even make it to the semi-finals, and paid tribute to his ‘amazing’ partner Karen for transforming him into such an accomplished dancer.
Sent home: Chris Ramsey became the latest celebrity eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night, narrowly missing out on a spot in the final
They will join Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse along with EastEnders star Emma Barton and Anton du Beke.
Following his elimination, Chris was warmly embraced by his fellow Strictly stars as they congratulated him on making it to the semi-finals.
Speaking to Tess about his departure he said: ‘Wow, I am very proud of myself. I never ever thought I would make it past week two, genuinely I had no expectations whatsoever, I am astounded and I’ve got to thank Karen, she is just amazing and is just amazing and so patient its crazy!
‘She is awesome. I had sleepless nights in the build up and there is no-one else who can have made it what it has been.’
Elimination: The comedian, 33, and his professional dance partner Karen Hauer were given the boot after they landed in the bottom two against Karim Zeroual with Amy Dowden
Karen had equally kind words to say about her partner, and admitted she’d had a ball during the twelve weeks of training with him.
She said: ‘This has been a giggle fest. Thank you judges for being so amazing to us.
‘You are an amazing family man who I admire and you are awesome and I appreciated you literally from week one, not knowing how to walk, and now you are a semi finalist and you have made all of us proud and have inspired all of us and I want to thank you for being awesome.’
Chris was eliminated from Strictly after the judges chose to save Karim and Amy in the dance-off with Craig Revel Horwood saying: ‘Well I loved the story telling, particularly in both dances and I’m going to vote on the technique and for me technically the best couple were Karim and Amy.
Motsi Mabuse added: Well the first time I saw this dance I thought it was brilliant but the second time I thought it was even better, so I am going to save Karim and Amy.’
Achievement: Following his elimination, Chris was warmly embraced by his fellow Strictly stars as they congratulated him on making it to the semi-finals
Bruno Tonioli also said: ‘With no disrespect, both were highly entertaining. I love you both, thank you for three months of great dancing and great entertainment. I have to choose the best dancer – Karim.’
Chris and Karen’s exit also came after they finished at the bottom of the leaderboard following Saturday’s semi-final.
Performing a Viennese Waltz to Queen’s Somebody To Love, the pair admitted even they were stunned to have made it so far in the competition.
Proud: Karen gushed about working with Chris on this year’s series with host Tess Daly
Sadly Shirley noted that their performance had ‘too many mistakes,’ but Craig credited the comedian for his commitment to show and his improvement since the first week.
He said: ‘You know what Chris I’m extremely proud of you. You literally came from nothing and now you’re presenting as a dancer and I think that is truly remarkable.’
Despite Craig’s praise, Chris and Karen scored 26 out of 40, which put them at the bottom of the leaderboard.
For their second dance, Chris and Karen hoped to redeem themselves with a romantic Rumba to Don’t Watch Me Cry by Jorja Smith.
Past: Chris and Karen dodged elimination last week after head judge Shirley chose to save them in the dance-off
Despite a solid effort, Craig simply said it was ‘the wrong dance on the wrong day,’ but an optimistic Motsi added: ‘I think you captured the essence of the dance, a little more rumba would have been nice, but you took me in that dance and I believed you.’
Bruno added: ‘I have to be honest, technically was it perfect? No by far, but you have such honesty and depth of feeling to what you did, it really is impossible to not be involved and moved by it and I really appreciate it great job.’
Sadly, Chris and Karen were clearly in danger of missing out on a spot in the final as they scored 28 points out of 40.
Chris’ wife Rosie has been supporting her husband throughout his Strictly journey and regularly spoke about his stint on the series on social media.
The comedian recently joked that his other half has been furious at his weight loss from taking part in the dance competition.
He told Metro: ‘It is no secret that she is a little bit angry that I have lost so much while doing work.
‘It’s not like I have had to go to a gym. I’ve got a really good metabolism. I can eat basically what I want and not be huge.
‘She’s very used to being annoyed at how I look. So yeah – just more of that, which just gives me endless joy.’
Romance: Chris’ wife Rosie has been supporting her husband throughout his Strictly journey and regularly spoke about his stint on the series on social media (pictured in May 2019)