Ed Balls has been eliminated from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The 49-year-old politician has consistently found himself at the bottom of the leaderboard on the ballroom dance show and on Sunday’s (27.11.16) show, he lost the dance-off to Judge Rinder.
Speaking after his elimination, the star paid tribute to his professional partner Katya Jones and said: "If people watching have had half the fun I’ve had learning to dance with Katya, then they must have had a complete blast because it’s been such a fabulous thing. But above all, the only reason we have been able to learn and to entertain is because of Katya. It’s her first series and she’s going to go on to be a total dynamite, knockout ‘Strictly’ star. She’s absolutely amazing, utterly brilliant. And to all the people who have kept me in this long: thank you very much, I’m very grateful. I’ve had a wonderful time."
Katya added: "I love this man. My first series and I couldn’t ask for better. Thank you so much."
Ed also agreed that the judges had made the right decision in sending him home.
He said: "I started off as a novice and I’ve worked hard to improve but the longer the competition went on the higher the standard, the judges were looking for more and more and although I worked hard I just couldn’t match that."
Meanwhile, Ed received praise from his fellow contestants.
Judge Rinder said: "He is decent and funny and passionate and authentic," while Louis Redknapp added: "Ed is going to be hugely missed. He was such a huge personality around here."
And before the dance-off, Craig Revel Horwood admitted that he has "secretly enjoyed Ed’s dancing" over the past few weeks and urged him to go even bigger than ever before.
Earlier on the show, Ellie Goulding sang ‘Still Falling For You’ while professional dancers Kevin and Karen Clifton performed an accompanying dance.
‘Strictly Come Dancing’s quarter final will take place on Saturday December 3.