This first celebrity to be eliminated from this year’s Strictly Come Dancing has been announced (Image: BBC)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe 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 infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe 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×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy Notice Olympic champion Tom Dean has become the first celebrity to be eliminated from this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. The gold-medallist swimmer was against singer and actress Toyah Willcox in Sunday, 29 September’s dance-off following the public vote – though sadly it was Tom’s time to say goodbye to the competition. Sporting sparkly and fringed outfits, the 24 year old performed an energetic cha cha with his dancer partner Nadiya Bychkova to the iconic Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind and Fire for a second time on Sunday night. Meanwhile, Toyah and her dance partner Neil Jones performed a jive to Nutbush City Limits by Ike and Tina Turner.
Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova have become the first pair to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2024
(Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)
After both couples had danced a second time, the judges gave their verdicts on the performances, with Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse both choosing to save Toyah and Neil. However Anton Du Beke voted to save Tom and Nadia. As a result, head judge Shirley Ballas was left to offer the deciding vote. After giving her feedback, she chose to save It’s A Mystery singer Toyah, meaning that Tom was eliminated. Following the verdict, the Olympian opened up on his time on the show and revealed that he’d had the “best time” since joining the competition. “I’ve had the best time the last few weeks and getting to work with Nadiya has been incredible,” he said. “I wish I could have gone further and done more dances. I’ve had the most fun and I wish we could keep going longer and longer. We’ll still go out for loads of brunches I’m sure.”
Tom was against Toyah Willcox in the dance off
(Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)
Sign up to OK’s TV newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free Strictly pro Nadiya also reflected on her time being partnered with the sportsman and explained how she’d discovered that not only is Tom a three-time Olympic champion, but he is a “true gentleman” too. “He taught me how to work really hard and how to put everything in”, she explained. “And you know what? On this programme, sometimes to win, you don’t need to win, and that’s how I feel this year.” Elsewhere in the results show, the professional dancers and judges performed an “avant-garde gothic tango” routine to Prince’s When Doves Cry and New Order’s Blue Monday. Jazz group Ezra Collective also performed a rendition of God Gave Me Feet For Dancing featuring Yazmin Lacey as they entertained the audience.
Tom’s fellow contestants rushed to hug him after the verdict was announced
(Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)
Prior to beginning his Strictly Come Dancing journey, Tom let slip that he was set to join the show while at the Paris Olympics. Later confirming his participation in the series in an interview on BBC Radio 1, he said: “I am taking part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024! You may have heard me accidentally say it poolside first… but now I can officially talk about how excited I am to get stuck into something new, meet some brilliant people and get dancing. Bring it on!”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnStrictly Come DancingCraig Revel HorwoodShirley BallasAnton Du BekeTom Dean
