Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe became the eighth couple to leave the BBC One dance contest

Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe leave Strictly Come Dancing(Image: BBC)

Alex Kingston made a ‘life’ vow about her relationship with Johannes Radebe as they became the latest couple to leave Strictly Come Dancing.

The actress and the professional dancer became the eight couple to leave the BBC One dance contest during the latest results show on Sunday night (November 30) following a difficult evening on the dance floor on Saturday (November 29).

After last weekend’s Blackpool sepcial saw no elimination take place following La Voix’s unfortunate exit due to injury, the remaining couples were back under pressure as they returned to Elstree Studios where, after their latest performances and a new challenge, it would be decided who has made the quarter-finals.

The episode began as normal, with each couple performing their choreographed dances. It was then towards the end of the show, after each couple had performed their choreographed dance, they returned to the dancefloor to learn what dance they would have to perform and the accompanying music for the Instant Dance challenge.

Sadly, at the bottom of the leaderboard was actress Alex and her dance partner Johannes. They performed a Cha Cha Cha to Anita Ward’s 1979 hit Ring My Bell and scored 23 points, after the judges – and Alex herself – noted a number of mistakes.

They then won an extra three points in the Instant Dance challenge, during which they performed a 40-second rumba. But Strictly viewers couldn’t help but worry for Alex, who was last weekend revealed to have been dancing with an injury to her ribs.

Johannes and Alex were the latest couple to leave the BBC One dance contest(Image: PA)

It was then during the results show that it was confirmed Alex and Johannes were in the dance-off, up against Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon, who found themselves in the dreaded position for the fifth time this serie

Both couples performed their routines again; Alex and Johannes performed their Cha Cha to Anita Ward’s Ring My Bell, before Balvinder and Julian performed their Jive to Right Back Where We Started From by Maxine Nightingale.

After both couples had danced a second time in the dance off, the judges delivered their verdicts and while Anton Du Beke chose to save Alex and Johannes, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse wanted Balvinder and Julian through to next week.

Therefore, it was down to head Judge Shirley Ballas, who had the casting vote this week, decided to save Balvinder and Julian, with the couple therefore securing their place in Strictly’s Musicals Week next Saturday (December 6).

When asked by Tess Daly about her time on the show, Alex said: “I had never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would last this long. It’s been just the most incredible journey for me. I feel quite proud of myself because I’ve loved the process, I mean 100%, you can tell by my smile. Everyone always says that their dance partner is a friend for life, but JoJo really will be.” Johannes said of their partnership: “I’ve never grinned as much as I have in the last few weeks. Thank you Alex for being a trooper, I will hold on to the memories. As far as the dancing goes, I think we’ve achieved what we wanted to achieve. These memories are just the beginning for us, we can say that we are very much a Strictly family.”Sunday’s Results show featured a dramatic tumba professional group number to Wicked Game by Grace Carter, choreographed by fromer show pro Oti Mabuse and her husband, dancerMarius Lepure. Myles Smith also gave an incredible performance of Stay (If You Wanna Dance) accompanied by professional dancers Kai Widdrington and Karen Hauer.

The remaining five couples are through to next weekend’s Musicals Week quarter-final which will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 6.50pm on Saturday and 7:45pm on Sunday.

Musicals Week will also see our couples take part in another Strictly first: a brand new high-stakes dance challenge. Further details will be revealed in due course.