(Image: PA)
BBC Strictly Come Dancing star says they've 'won' the show as they exit competition fourth
by Jessica Sansome · Manchester Evening NewsPaul Merson has said he's already 'won' as he became the fourth celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing 2024. The former footballer and his dance partner Karen Hauer were delivered the news during Sunday night's results show (October 10).
On Saturday night (October 19), Paul and Karen were seen back in the ballroom after making it through to week five of the BBC One dance contest following their magnificent quickstep last weekend.
Following his latest peformance, Paul was praised by head judge Shirley Ballas for the “enthusiasm” he has shown as a “non-dancer” on the hit dance show this year.
The former footballer-turned-pundit, 56, got 19 points from the judges for his samba to Car Wash by R&B group Rose Royce. Paul said he “still didn’t know the dance” before performing it, and challenged judge Craig Revel Horwood to a football match for the low score.
But Paul and Karen have now found themselves out of the competition following a dance-off against JB Gill and Amy Dowden during the fourth results show of the series.
Both couples performed their routines again, which including JB and his partner Amy's Jive to Hey Ya! by Outkast, before the judges all favoured to save JB and Amy, sending Paul and Karen home.
Ex-Arsenal player Paul said to Tess after the results were revealed: "It’s been really good. For anybody I talk to, I would say you’ve got to go on this show. It’s amazing – everybody. There’s a Tottenham fan over there called Lincoln and even he’s nice. It’s been amazing, honestly, amazing. I loved every minute of it, I’ve had a great teacher.
(Image: PA)
"She’s been amazing, absolutely amazing and I couldn’t wish for a better coach. I’ve loved every minute of it. I can dance now – I’ve won because I can dance, I couldn’t dance before and I can half dance now. It’s a bonus, absolute bonus."
Karen then told Paul: "You’ve been a joy. I’ve never giggled this much. My abs are really tight now. I am so proud of you. Every week you have showed up, you have improved.
"You’re what Strictly is about and I want to thank you for bringing such joy and just showing everyone that it is possible with a little bit of work and lots of giggles."
Sunday’s results show also saw former Strictly dancer Oti Mabuse, who has since become a judge on ITV’s Dancing On Ice, choreograph Nancy Xu and Dianne Buswell’s paso doble to Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood by Santa Esmeralda, while former Strictly contestant Sophie Ellis-Bextor also returned to the show to perform her new single Freedom Of The Night.
The remaining 11 couples will take to the dancefloor in a Halloween Special when Strictly returns live on Saturday October 26 at 6.25pm with the results show on Sunday October 27 at 7.20pm on BBC One and iPlayer.