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Sunday November 8,2009

By James Fielding

THE drama on the Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor was finally over for Coronation Street star Craig Kelly last night.

The underdog who had been desperate to perform in Blackpool finally crashed out after weeks of poor performances.

The heart-throb failed to blow away the judges with his cha cha cha and lost the dance-off against EastEnder Ricky Groves.

His parents, who were in the audience, heard harsh comments from the judges. Alesha Dixon said: “I’m happy that you got to Blackpool but I can’t believe Zoe has gone and I had to endure that. You are not as good as you think you are.”

Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian and partner Brian Fortuna rocked the famous Tower Ballroom – for many years the home of the long-running BBC series Come Dancing – with a towering performance of the Viennese waltz.

The popular couple, who have been rumoured to be “getting close” off the show, achieved a perfect score of 40.

Head judge Len Goodman labelled it “the dance of the series” and even acid-tongued Craig Revel Horwood was forced to admit: “I’m very disappointed. I could not find a single thing wrong.”

Hollyoaks star Ricky Whittle, 27, also impressed with his tango, though his professional partner Natalie Lowe tried to take the blame for an uncharacteristic slip-up.

The night heated up as Penny Lancaster, 38, was serenaded by husband Rod Stewart singing Same Old Song as she danced the cha cha cha with professional dancer Matthew Cutler.

She had not performed since she starred in Strictly two years ago when she was voted out in week six after losing to eventual runner-up Matt Di Angelo in the dance-off.