Mollie King and AJ Pritchard have become the 11th couple to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing, narrowly missing out on a place in next week’s final.
The Saturdays singer, 30, was eliminated from the competition after finding herself in the bottom two for the third time, alongside actress Gemma Atkinson, 33, who was in the dance-off for the first time.
Reflecting on her time on the show, an emotional Mollie paid a heartfelt tribute to her dance partner AJ, 22, for being her ‘hero’ during the gruelling competition.
Kiss goodbye? Mollie King and AJ Pritchard looked especially close as they bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night in the semi-final
She said: ‘AJ, you have been just incredible and you have been my hero for the last couple of months so thank you so much. I couldn’t have done any of it without you.’
Returning the praise in kind, a proud AJ responded: ‘I want to say thank you so much for being in training and literally spending all the time working so hard and always willing to try everything and performing every single night as if it’s your last.’
Mollie also complimented the hard work of Gemma and her dance partner Aljaz Skorjanec, along with thanking her fans for getting the pair to the semi-final.
‘Couldn’t have done it without you’: Mollie and AJ faced Gemma Atkinson and Aljaz Skorjanec but missed out on going through to the final
She said: ‘Congratulations to Gemma and Aljaž because they danced their socks off and totally deserved to be there and congratulations to all the finalists, they’re so incredible and good luck, I can’t wait to watch you all, so go out there and get it! I have so many thank you’s.
Thank you to everyone who has voted us through to the semi-finals, it’s so far beyond what we ever thought that would happen; I’m so so grateful for that.
‘Thank you to all the professionals, you have been so much fun and so encouraging. Thank you to the judges, you have just been unbelievable and I will forever remember everything that you said and I will take it on board when I’m dancing at home or wherever I’m dancing.’
Saying good bye: Though she was emotional, Mollie embraced her counterparts with a smile
Semi-final night: Sending one couple home just before the finale, Tess Daly (right) and Claudia Winkleman (left) glammed up for the night
‘And to Tess, Claudia and Zoe, you have been amazing, you have been so so just lovely and above all.’
The pair’s time on Strictly came to an end after they failed to impress with their two dances – the Samba to Shakira’s Whenever, Wherever and their Waltz to Angel by Sarah McLachlan- and landed bottom of the leaderboard with 56 points.
Gemma and Aljaz were just above with 62 points.
When the dreaded dance-off results were announced Mollie and AJ chose to perform their Waltz again while Gemma and Aljaz picked their Tango to My Sharona by The Knack.
Can’t believe it: Alexandra Burke (left) was delighted to miss out on the dance-off again
With both couples performing their routines again, it was Gemma and Aljaz who found themselves sailing through to the final with all four judges voting to save them.
Craig Revel Horwood said: ‘Both couples neck and neck, both couples ballroom which is unusual, both couples I think pulled out the stops tonight but for me the couple that had the edge…. Gemma and Aljaž.’
Darcey Bussell added: ‘Well both couples made a great great improvement but the couple that was more assured and more confident was Gemma and Aljaž.’
Sealing Mollie and AJ’s fate, Bruno Tonioli said: ‘Well first I want to congratulate you both because you did so well, you improved so much, gave everything you had to this, but I really have to choose the couple that stood out to my eye. I have to choose Gemma and Aljaž.’
Showgirl: The blonde has really risen to the occasion during the competition
Head judge Shirley Ballas’ vote therefore did not count but she said she agreed with her fellow judges and would have also saved Gemma and Aljaz.
Saturday night’s show saw Alexandra Burke and her partner Gorka Marquez top the leaderboard, being awarded their first 40 for the Salsa to Finally by Ce Ce Peniston and 39 for their Viennese Waltz to Everybody Hurts by Tina Arena.
Sunday’s results show featured a stunning musical performance Craig David and Bastille.
The remaining four couples will perform three dances next week when Strictly Come Dancing returns for the glittering grand final on BBC One.
‘He was the best part’: Mollie paid tribute to her dance partner AJ