View 3 Images

Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is the latest celebrity to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Guy Levy)

The words of Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey appeared to hit the heart of Strictly Come Dancing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as he left the dance floor for the final time.

The star was the latest celeb to be booted off the show on Sunday, after falling into the dreaded dance-off. He heaped praise on his professional dance partner Karen Hauer, as the pair said their goodbyes.

In his exit speech he said: “I think, first things, I just want to thank Karen, genuinely, you have given me an opportunity to shine. You’ve understood my crazy brain. I’m such a logical person, trying to dance – and obviously doing what I do – Olympic sprinter, Gladiator – now I’m trying to be a dancer. I just want to thank you so much for the time and effort, the hard work that you’ve given to me.”

He added: “You show up, you turn out. I want to thank everyone here. Literally, this has been a dream come true. This is a celebration. It’s a celebration. I spoke to my daughter and she didn’t like seeing her dad sad, and when she saw me sad last week, she was like, ‘Daddy what’s wrong?’ and I wanted to show everyone that, no matter what happens, there’s always a silver lining. But this is an experience for me. So, thank you for this lovely gift, and at the end of the day, we carry on, we give it to them, and we continue to shine. Do you know what I mean?”

l

View 3 Images

The words of Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey appeared to hit the heart of Strictly Come Dancing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Guy Levy)

It comes as his co-star and Youtuber George Clarke predicted this year’s Strictly Come Dancing winner. The social media star is paired up with professional dancer Alexis Warr.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info

Alexis and George spoke to The Independent about who they think will be the winner. When asked, George said: “See it’s such a insanely competitive, in the sense that the dancing’s good, such a competitive competition that really anybody could.

“But, I think I’d love to see Alex or Vicky do it personally if I had to put my money on anyone.” Alexis found it a bit more difficult to come up with an answer.

She said: “I think for me again all of them bring something so special and so I don’t really have an answer for this one just because I can see anyone doing it because it is such a close compact scoring.

Article continues below

“Like everyone is so talented and brings something so special so I think it could be anyone’s quite honestly.” The judges couldn’t seem to agree on their opinions of George’s dance this week.

While Shirley Ballas praised George’s footwork, Craig wasn’t too impressed. Shirley said that George was “back with a bang for sure” as she praised his “natural turns, reverse turns” as well as the good stride on his first step.

View 3 Images

The star was the latest celeb to be booted off the show on Sunday(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Guy Levy)

Article continues below

She also said he had “a lovely shape” while dancing, and said George’s was some of “the best footwork” she has seen in a Viennese Waltz.

“Your best dance,” she said. However, Craig didn’t agree as he said: “I don’t agree. I don’t think the footwork was that perfect, I’ve got to be honest.”

But Shirley showed her disapproval of Craig’s comments as she defended her remarks for George. “We’re just going to have to agree to disagree on that,” Craig said.