MELVIN Odoom has become the first celebrity to be booted off Strictly Come Dancing.
The presenter and DJ and his professional dance partner Janette Manrara were given their marching orders after receiving the fewest votes from viewers.
Odoom said the experience had been "a blessing" despite his early departure.
The pair - who performed a Tango to Movin' On Up by M People on Saturday's show - were due to face singer Anastacia and her pro partner Brendan Cole in the dreaded dance off after the first public vote was combined with the judges' scores.
However, an injury that forced Anastacia to perform a modified routine during Saturday's instalment kept her off the dancefloor altogether in the results show.
This meant the couple with the fewest viewer votes were eliminated.
A Strictly Come Dancing spokesman said: "There was no dance off tonight due to a confirmed injury.
"As per the Strictly Come Dancing rules, if the dance off cannot go ahead then the result reverts to the viewer vote."
When asked by host Tess Daly about his time on the BBC show, Odoom said: "I just need to say, every single person on this show; the contestants, the dancers, the production, the judges, everyone is absolutely amazing.
"It's a blessing to be on the show and thank you for Janette, it's been a great experience for me, thank you!"
Anastacia, who underwent a double mastectomy in 2013 after being diagnosed with breast cancer fore the second time, said she was sorry to see Odoom leave the competition.
"I danced on Saturday even though the doctor had advised me to rest after I ripped the scar tissue around where I had my double mastectomy," she said.
"After that, I was unable to dance again and I was devastated that I couldn't take part in the dance off.
"I am so very sad to see Melvin and Janette go, they are the most the most wonderful pair and I will miss Melvin's unique spirit and beautiful smile."
Speaking after the show, Odoom said the contestants' health is the most important thing.
He said: "I love Anastacia. I think she's a great woman, she's a great role model and her health comes first before everything else.
"As much as this is a great show and competition, her health comes first; it's the way it is."
The results show also featured a performance from superstar Barry Gibb.
Odoom and Manrara will join Zoe Ball for their first exclusive live interview on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two on Monday, October 3 at 6.30pm on BBC Two.
Meanwhile, Strictly Come Dancing waltzed over The X Factor in the first head-to-head clash between the rival shows on Saturday night - notching up 9.2 million viewers.
The BBC ballroom dancing show featured Ed Balls in an energetic Charleston, and tied former Hollyoaks actor Danny Mac and singer Louise Redknapp at the top of the leader board.
Strictly, hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, enjoyed a peak audience of 10.3 million viewers at 7.45pm.
It attracted an average of 9.2 million tuning in to watch the show and a 44.6% audience share.
The X Factor, which has had an overhaul with Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh joining Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger as judges, attracted 6.8 million viewers (a 33% share) and peaked with 8.1 million viewers.
Strictly Come Dancing was broadcast between 6.20pm and 8.25pm, while The X Factor aired from 8pm to 9.50pm, meaning the shows went head to head for the first time this series for 25 minutes.
ITV said viewing figures were up by 200,000 on the first Judges' Houses show from the 2015 series, when 6.6 million tuned in.
