Laura Whitmore leaves Strictly

Week Seven was a week of highs for some, but sadly not for Laura and Giovanni who became the seventh couple to leave Strictly Come Dancing 2016.

After receiving 32 points for their Samba to ‘Bamboleo’ by Gipsy Kings, Laura and Giovanni found themselves in seventh place on the leaderboard. When news of the bottom two couples was announced, it was revealed the pair would face Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton in the dreaded Dance Off.

This was Laura’s second time in the Dance Off. While the Judges unanimously chose to save Ore and Joanne, they were full of praise for both couples. Bruno deemed the Dance Off a “Dance Treat” and Darcey said she thought both couples danced “exceptionally well.”

Laura’s Strictly journey has been full of highs and lows – from topping the Week Six leaderboard with a fierce Tango to ‘Paint it Black’ by The Rolling Stones to being unable to dance due to injury in Week Five.

As a self-proclaimed Strictly super fan, the experience not only met, but exceeded, Laura's expectations: “Just being here, the judges, behind the scenes. I don’t think anyone realises how much goes on here, the make-up, the costume, everything and just to be part of that for a little while is amazing. And if I’m going to go against anyone then, Ore, I mean… I’m ok.”

Giovanni was grateful for Laura’s partnership for his second series of Strictly and said: “I would like to say again thank you for being such a great partner, an amazing person to work with, you teach me a lot and I will never ever forget this journey.”

The lovely Laura will be greatly missed by the whole Strictly family, who had some warm words to say about the Irish TV Presenter: