La Voix breaks down in tears over sudden Strictly Come Dancing exit

La Voix still got to perform in Blackpool, as she and Aljaz closed out the show in style despite her foot injury. The Drag Race star descended from the ceiling on a giant heart, and the pair performed a quick routine to Love Is In The Air.

La Voix broke down in tears as she spoke out about her sudden exit from Strictly Come Dancing following her injury. Seated alongside professional partner Aljaz, she said: "This has been the most extraordinary experience of my entire life. What I loved most, don't hate me, it's not the dancing but it's just being welcomed by everyone. I came into the show as a minority, as a redhead, and you've embraced me wonderfully. I cannot thank you enough, it's been amazing."

"I'm just so lucky. What you see on that dancefloor is a fraction of the love and the passion this man has for dance. You have made me carry on when I've questioned myself, made me laugh on the toughest day and when I thought I couldn't do something, you never gave up on me. Not once. I am leaving this show more confident, and that's because of you." Read more about the emotional moment here.

Fans were left in tears as singer Lewis Capaldi arrived to perform Something In The Heavens, accompanied by a routine from the professionals. One wrote on X: "Lewis Calpaldi got me out here bawling like a babythat was just beautiful," and another said: "the lewis capaldi dance was so gorgeous tears!"

Host Claudia Winkleman has revealed that a new first for the series will be installed in the next stage of the competition. She said: "Next week, the competition is ramping up. Strictly has a new challenge." As of next week, the celebs will face Instant Dance, picking a dance style at random to perform on the spot, and it has been billed as the "ultimate test" for the contestants at this stage of the competition.

After a quartet of former contestants opened the show, fans were quick to demand an All Stars-style spin-off. One fan wrote on X: "Please please please @bbcpress @BBCOne @bbcstrictly get Danny Mac back on an All Stars #Strictly or a #StrictlyComeDancing tour. Good grief," and another said: "Petition for Strictly All Stars next year please!"

George Clarke and Alexis Warr have revealed that next week, they will be doing a Quickstep to Frank Sinatra classic I Get A Kick Out of You.

Despite the lack of elimination leaving some fans cold, the show still got off to a flying start as former contestants Ashley Roberts, Danny Mac, Jay McGuiness and Layton Williams all made a comeback to the dancefloor to recreate some of their most famous moments from their time on the show.

One wrote on X: "10 years in and Jay’s jive still gives me goosebumps. Shame Ailona isn’t there to dance it with him!" Another said: "Yes Danny, show us how it’s done. #Strictly"

Just before it all kicked off, fans took to X to wonder what the point of the results show was since no elimination would be taking place after La Voix had to drop out over an injury. One said: "Well this is going to be a pointless 45 minutes of TV," and another wrote: "Amazing to think that the most watched show on TV today is probably going to be a #Strictly Results Show with No Results in it!"

Ann Widdecombe and Anton Du Beke - 2010 The pair were both dressed in bright canary yellow outfits, with Anton spinning Ann around the floor with arms flailing. The judges compared the former Tory MP to haemorrhoids and a 'lame canary' that night.

Judy Murray and Anton Du Beke - 2014 Judy achieved her highest score ever in the ballroom because she worked so hard during Blackpool week. Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli was very impressed and said: "She really went for it and did a wonderfully good, solid performance and not a comedy turn. She really put the effort in and it was stunning."

Ed Balls and Katya Jones - 2016 Ed lit up the ballroom, literally, as he was lowered from harness whilst playing a flaming grand piano as part of a performance Elton John would have been proud of. Quite fittingly, he played Great Balls Of Fire before entering into a jive.

Simon Webbe & Kristina Rihanoff - 2004 The couple hadn't been doing too well in series 12 but came back fighting that night. The focus, sharpness and synchronicity of the dance were noticed by the three judges who awarded them 10s. The performance was that good they performed it again at the finals where it gained a full 40 marks.

Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice - 2017 Donning the iconic ginger and blonde wig with Union Jack dress, Debbie McGee performed a Samba to a medley of the girl band's hits. Her four backing dancers - dressed as Posh, Scary, Baby and Sporty joined her - and Debbie scored an impressive 33 out of 40 for her efforts.

Caroline Flack & Pasha Kovalev - 2014 Caroline and her partner Pasha Kovalev took the ballroom to Turkey in 2014 with their Charleston dance to Istanbul during their performance. The choreography was described as quirky, but with perfect timing and the pair went on to get score a 38 from the judges.

Strictly first decamped to Blackpool for the third ever episode in May 2004, and the 2005 final, which is when actress Jill Halfpenny won.

But 'Blackpool Week' didn't become a regular thing from 2009, when Children In Need temporarily took over the Strictly studio at BBC Television Centre every November. The show no longer needed to make way for Children In Need when TV Centre closed in 2013, but by then, "making it to Blackpool" had become an established milestone just over halfway through the series.

YouTuber George Clarke wowed the judges as he and Alexis Warr scored a 39 for their Salsa. Afterwards, George wrote on Instagram: "Have to say I thoroughly enjoyed that! This week felt like there was a bit of a switch for me in terms of my attack and I just genuinely loved every minute. By no means do I want to take my foot off the gas and I know that's just one dance (and not a perfect one) but hopefully can keep the ball rolling!"

Shortly after the Drag Race star announced she would be leaving the competition over an injury, her fellow contestants quickly offered their wellwihses. Vicky Pattison, who was eliminated last week. wrote: "Love you mate [crying emojis], it won't be the same without you.

Lorraine star Ross King, who left the show early on in the competition, said: "Sending you the hugest of hugs. What a star you are. xxx."

At the top of the show, it was announced that Drag Race star La Voix had had to withdraw from the show altogether after sustaining an injury. She had initially been given a pass through to next week but after leaving permanenently, she wrote on Instagram: "I'm absolutely devastated to be withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing. This isn't the glittering exit I ever imagined, and it breaks my heart to feel like I'm letting people down. My spirit wanted to keep dancing but my foot has other ideas!. Thank you for every cheer, every vote, and every sparkle of support - it's meant the world to me. This isn't the ending I imagined, but I'll cherish this forever."

Of course, with his perfect score after opening the show, Emmerdale star Lewis Cope and Katya Jones are at the top of the leaderboard this week, but EastEnders' Balvinder and Julian are at the bottom. Following La Voix's exit due to injury, Claudia explained: "Nobody is going home tonight. The judges scores are being carried over with your votes when they will be combined with next week's scores and votes. There will be a dance-off next weekend."

YouTube star George Clarke and his professional partner Alexis Warr closed Blackpool with a Salsa that was set to Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now), and the judges were all equally impressed. Shirley predicted George will be in the final, and Craig labelled the influencer as "a true star."

Craig - 9

Motsi - 10

Shirley - 10

Anton - 10

This week, former ER actress Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe did their Couple's Choice to a mashup History Repeating by Propellerheads ft Miss Shirley Bassey and Look At Me by Geri Halliwell. Johannes said afterwards: "Darling, I just wanted you to shine and showcase how far how you've come and the other day, she said 'Look at me!' I said "Darling, I see you!"

Craig - 8

Motsi - 9

Shirley - 9

Anton - 9

Head juge Shirley Ballas was left feeling emotional following Karen Carney and Carlos Gu's Paso doble. It will go down in history. It did not require anything soft, you scored on every competitive level with that Pasa doble!" They almost got the second 40 of the night, with all judges opting to hand out a 10 except Craig Revel Horwood, who gave them a 9.

After her Qucikstep that was set to S Club 7's Reach, Anton pointed out that to Amber that something nearly wrong but she styled it out perfectly. He said: "I'm so delighted you did a Quickstep because you covered this wonderful floor, amazingly beautifully. I was a bit concerned at the beginning because the lovely boys dancing with you got you out of the lift a bit late and I thought it could be a nasty incident. But you picked it up without any hesitation at all, straight in to the first step." In the end, Amber and Nikita scored a 36, with all four judges handing out a 9.

There was a surprise in store this week for West End star Amber Davies as Nikita had arranged for her to meet her nana Janete on an open-topped bus. In emotional scenes, the Love Island winner was in tears over the sweet moment. Janete told Amber: "Dreams do come true. When I lost my husband, my grandchildren made my life worth living." Amber admitted through tears that family 'means everything' to her and dedicated this week's dance to her grandmother.

It may have been a tricky week for EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal as she found herself in the bottom two yet again after the last episode, but she almost broke down in tears after her Argentine tango as she admitted that she had always wanted to do that dance and her partner Julian said he'd remember it for the rest of his life. The soap star was elated with her score of 33, with Shirley, Craig and Motsi all awarding her an 8 and Anton being a tiny bit more generous with a score of 9.

The Emmerdale star and professional partner Katya Jones made sure that Blackpool got off to a flying start as they bagged themselves a perfect score for their Charleston to I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.

With La Voix's exit from the whole competition, Tess and Claudia have now confirmed that no one will be eliminated from the show this week and there will be no dance off!

La Voxi had to drop out of the show this week thanks to a foot injury and it was confirmed as the show began that she has now left the entire competition. Tess told viewers: "As you may have heard, La Voix sustained an injury meaning she can't dance in Blackpool and following medical advice from our team, we can now confirm that she has veryy sadly had to withdraw from the competition." Claudia then confirmed the Drag Race star will be speaking about it more in tomorrow night's results show. The star was then spotted looking heartbroken in the audience as the announcement was made.

The star, whose real name is Christopher Dennis, took to social media on Saturday in the countdown for the live show to take place, to reveal that she had been presented with a bouquet of flowers that had cheered her up amid the tough time.

Alongside a picture of the gift, the TV star wrote on Instagram: "Thank you so much Darlings @blossom_and_ivy. This really is a gorgeous surprise on an otherwise sad day of not dancing in Blackpool." Read more here.

Fans will know that La Voix is out of the competition this week as she recovers from a foot injury but viewers have demanded that BBC bosses therefore waive the dreaded elimination this week.

One wrote on X: “really hope there isn’t an elimination tonight. it just wouldn’t be fair and it would completely mess up the final,” and another said: “Then the obvious question should be how to fill a result show on Sunday with no elimination (which is why i think they won't go down that route but on the other hand they managed it when Nigel Harman pulled out in 20

In the days leading up to the fan favourite Blackpool special, head judge Shirley admitted that one of the biggest problems viewers might not even think of is the sheer lack of space she has when compared to her own dressing room at the London studios. She explained: “At Elstree Studios, I have my own room and my own shower, which I love. But at Blackpool, we have these winnebagos, and if it rains, you've got to dash from your Winnebago to the ballroom under an umbrella!

“I think people would also be surprised how they managed to squeeze everyone into a much smaller space. Elstree is a proper studio, and Blackpool is just a ballroom, so you're cramming in the whole crew, plus all the machines, the wires, the props and the cameras." Read more of what Shirley had to say about Blackpool here.

Fans ‘emotional’ already over Tess and Claudia exit

This year will mark the last time that hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly will present the special Blackpool Tower heat, after more than a decade at the helm of the competition.

Fans have already started to feel sad about this milestone, with one writing on X:Looking forward to @bbcstrictly tonight Live from #Blackpool Shame it's @TessDaly and @ClaudiaWinkle last ever hosting from #TheTowerBallroom though.
Another said: “Tess & Claudia's Last Blackpool #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing shows this weekend[heartboken emoji] I AM EMOTIONAL! - I hope this is the biggest and best Blackpool week yet.”