End of the road for seventh celebrity on Strictly Come Dancing

Mike Bushell has finally got the boot from Strictly Come Dancing after surviving three dance-offs.

The BBC sports presenter and his partner Katya Jones saw off competition from Catherine Tyldesley, Viscountess Weymouth and David James in the head-to-head deciding dances in previous weeks.

But this time, the judges opted to save Michelle Visage and her partner Giovanni Pernice, who danced an American smooth.

Bushell, 53, failed to impress with his paso doble on Saturday night, with Bruno Tonioli saying he “felt something” following the matador-inspired routine, before adding: “It was indigestion.”

Despite his exit, Bushell said he was “not going to stop dancing”, adding that the experience has “changed me completely”.

“I have lost a stone-and-a-half. I’m a guy in his 50s, I’m mentally sharper, I feel able to deal with pressured situations thanks to the dance-offs!,” he said.

And Bushell, who earlier said he had faced death threats after seeing off other dancers, said he has all the judges’ comments “framed around the house”.

He added: “I didn’t think I’d get this far so I have already booked a hotel in Blackpool (for next weekend’s show), so I’m still coming along.”

The BBC Breakfast sports host praised “amazing teacher” Jones for making “you believe that anything is possible” and for performing “miracles”.

Jones said her partner “can leave with your head held up” adding, “I’m so sorry I couldn’t take you to Blackpool.”

All the judges opted to save RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Visage but Bushell was also praised for “putting up a very good fight”.

Anneka Rice, James Cracknell and Dev Griffin have also been voted off the BBC One show, while Will Bayley had to withdraw following an injury.

Bushell and Jones will appear on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two with Rylan Clark-Neal on Monday at 6.30pm on BBC Two.