³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Horse-racing legend Richard Dunwoody tonight became the second celebrity to be voted off the seventh series of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One's Strictly Come Dancing.

This weekend the second group of celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners took to the floor.

On Friday night they each performed a ballroom number, while tonight (Saturday) the competition heated up as they danced a Latin number.

After performing a waltz on Friday night and a cha-cha-cha tonight, the combination of the judges' scores and viewer votes left Richard and his professional partner Lilia Kopylova in the bottom two and facing the dance off with actor and Coronation Street star Craig Kelly and his professional partner Flavia Cacace.

Richard and Lilia then performed their cha-cha-cha and Craig and Flavia their tango for a second time for the judges' deciding vote.

Making their decision on who to save, the judges said –

Craig Revel Horwood: "For me the choice is clear – Craig and Flavia."

Alesha Dixon: "I hate this bit of the show... for fighting spirit I'm going to save Craig and Flavia."

Bruno Tonioli: "Based on this performance I have to go, without doubt, for couple number one – Craig and Flavia."

With three votes in their favour Craig and Flavia were saved and through to next week's show, making Head Judge Len Goodman's vote academic, although he did vote to save Richard.

He said: "Well it's more consolation but I actually went for Richard and Lilia."

On Friday night, Richard and Lilia were awarded 19 points for their waltz by the judges and tonight they were again given a total of 19 points for their cha-cha-cha.

After his and Lilia's elimination, Richard said: "It's been an unbelievable experience, we've had our ups and downs along the way but it's been magical.

"Lilia has really done a tremendous job over the last four weeks."

Professional dancer Lilia said of Richard: "Well, Richard, you definitely have been by far the most hard-working partner I've had. He's really worked so hard because it didn't come easy.

"The best thing is I'm going to finally get to learn how to ride horses now."

The celebrities who also competed this week and escaped elimination were: Natalie Cassidy and Vincent Simone; Zoe Lucker and James Jordan; Laila Rouass and Anton Du Beke; Phil Tufnell and Katya Virshilas; Ricky Whittle and Natalie Lowe; and Jo Wood and Brendon Cole.

On Friday, the couples not competing performed a group mambo to a Michael Jackson medley which included a special moonwalk by Ricky Groves.

Tonight's show also saw Jamie Cullum perform I'm All Over It Now.

Next week, the remaining 14 couples in the competition will be competing against one another for the first time, as Strictly moves to one action-packed Saturday night show.

Notes to Editors

Strictly Come Dancing is available on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ HD.

Tune in to the next episode on Saturday 3 October 2009 at 7.00pm.

Don't forget you can get all the up-to-date gossip on Strictly Come Dancing's sister show It Takes Two, weekdays at 6.30pm on µþµþ°äÌý°Õ·É´Ç.

For more information and gossip, visit bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing or follow on Twitter: bbcstrictly.

IV/RB/KS3