Antiques expert Tim Wonnacott proved he was simply the worst after being kicked off Strictly Come Dancing following his bumbling Paso Doble to Tina Turner.

But the comical Bargain Hunt presenter bowed out gracefully revealing that despite being a "portly, over the hill 64-year-old" the BBC One competition had taken him to a "very special place".

Mark Wright managed to cling on to another week to remain in the final 12 couples after judges backed the "knight in white" following a dance off between the two celebrities who got the lowest public votes.

Scott Mills showed he clearly has a strong public following by escaping the bottom two, despite coming last in the judges' leader board after receiving a miserable two points from Craig Revel Horwood.

Bookmakers Coral had put him as favourite to be eliminated from the dance show after Judge Bruno Tonioli described his American smooth routine as an "American Tragedy" with "so many mistakes I lost count".

Tim praised his dancer partner Natalie Lowe after learning his fate.

"It's a great treat to be on a programme like Strictly," he said.

"For an old geezer like me, who comes along in his 64th year and he's slightly portly, and he thinks he's a bit over the hill, this last month, with this delightful teacher, has taken me to a very special place.

"I am fitter, I am a better person than I was a month ago as a result of this experience and I cannot tell you what a wonderful thing this whole programme is so I commend you all and thank-you.

"I would like to say what a treat it's been. Thank-you very much, and thank-you to my lovely Nat."

Asked if they were going to continue dancing, he added: "Definitely. I'm going to move to Australia! No, it's been a treat and a real enhancing experience so you can't ask for more, really. And thank-you so much to everyone who has supported us. Thank-you."

Television presenter Caroline Flack and EastEnders actor Jake Wood received the highest praise from the judges for their routines on Saturday night, each scoring 33 points putting them at the top of the leader board.

But it was pop singer Pixie Lott, who was reduced to tears during her romantic rumba to Sam Smith's Stay With Me, and television presenter Alison Hammond, who stormed on to the dance floor to take on the Samba to Beyonce, who stole the limelight.

Judge Craig Revel Horwood told Pixie her performance was "exquisite" as she admitted: "I wanted to get into character and I got a bit overwhelmed."

Hammond threw everything into a confident and energetic routine in a tasselled gold dress leaving the judges scrambling for words.

Panellist Bruno Tonioli joked that she "has plenty of booty to work and she worked it well" while Revel Horwood told her: "You gave that fringing the time of its life".

Judy Murray secured another week in the contest, despite weeks of poor comments and low scores for her "stiffness".

Her champion tennis sons used the promise of supporting her in a live show to encourage her to improve, after weeks of poor comments and low scores for her "stiffness".

In a brief appearance on Saturday's show via Skype, Andy joked that he would watch her routines to help him fall asleep.

Global pop singer Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett performed together on the show.