Calzaghe knocked out of Strictly

Former boxer Joe Calzaghe has become the latest celebrity to leave BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing show.

Calzaghe and dance partner Kristina Rihanoff were beaten in the dance-off by actress Zoe Lucker and her partner James Jordan.

Votes cast by the public were added to the judges' scores, leaving the two dance pairs with the lowest scores to fight for survival in the dance-off.

Calzaghe said: "It's the way it goes. It's been a great experience."

"It's been fantastic."

Ms Rihanoff added: "It's been amazing to teach someone like him and I'm so lucky to have him as my partner."

The fate of the pair - who had been the subject of newspaper speculation about their relationship - was sealed when judges Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and Alesha Dixon all voted to save Lucker.

The decision leaves 11 couples to battle it out next week in a bid to be crowned the show's winner.

Controversy has dogged this series of Strictly Come Dancing, with the show's producers having denied claims of ageism after 66-year-old judge Arlene Phillips was replaced with former winner Alesha Dixon, 30.

Then dancer Anton Du Beke apologised "unreservedly" after he used a racist term to refer to his partner.

Presenter Bruce Forsyth was drawn into the row after he said people should have a "sense of humour" about the incident.

Mr Forsyth subsequently stressed that he did not "excuse or condone" such language.

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