Annabel and Johannes just miss out on the Final

They’ve had an incredibly special journey, but sadly Annabel and Johannes bow out of the competition in the Semi-Final narrowly missing out on next week’s Grand Final.

They brought two incredible routines to the dance floor last night including a Salsa to You’ll Be Mine (Party Time) by Gloria Estefan and a Viennese Waltz to Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want by Slow Moving Millie. But, with the competition tougher than ever, they found themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard and facing the Dance Off against Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell.

Annabel and Johannes decided to dance their Viennese Waltz and Bobby and Dianne decided to dance their Quickstep to Mack The Knife by Bobby Darin.

Once both couples had danced again, the Judges delivered their verdicts. The vote was split down the middle with Craig Revel Horwood deciding to save Annabel and Johannes and Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke saving Bobby and Dianne, which meant Head Judge Shirley Ballas had the casting vote.

When making her decision she said: “The Semi-Final 2023, I thought both couples were absolutely extraordinary, I felt that both couples lifted their performance, I thought there was technical qualities on both sides, improvements galore, but again one tiny mistake coming out of a pivot turn and therefore my decision would be to save Bobby and Dianne.”

When asked by Tess about her time on the show, Annabel said: “It’s been the most life changing and extraordinary experience of my life. I have to congratulate Bobby and Dianne and all the contestants that took part in it. But obviously, it’s been an amazing, magical experience for me. Johannes, you have been absolutely extraordinary. You have given me a reason to get out of bed and come and dance with you, distract me and to heal me. I can’t thank you enough for that. You have been so patient, so caring and so loving. You are an unbelievably special human being. I simply adore you. Thank you so much.”

When asked if he had any words for his partner, Johannes said: “I would like to say thank you. Thank you for making the decision to come here. Thank you to Strictly Come Dancing for sending her my way. My life is richer with you in it. I hope we dance long after this has ended. You know my heart and I just want to tell you, thank you Annabel. Thank you Lily, thank you Amber, thank you Charlie.”

Annabel added: “It’s been the most incredible rollercoaster ride; I have had every single emotion you can imagine. I really want to thank Strictly for letting me take part in this competition. Thank you to the Judges, for your amazing comments and guiding us all along. But I also see this as a one-thousand-piece jig saw puzzle and I wish that everyone in the public could see what goes on behind the scenes because it’s quite extraordinary the machinery that makes it work and makes the show what it is. The most wholesome family entertainment magical show with so much glitz and glamour and so much enjoyment for everybody. It has been amazing and I can’t thank everyone enough. Thank you so much Johannes, for the most special time I have had with you.”

We will miss this beautiful partnership, but their Strictly journey holds a special place in all of our hearts. Catch them both for one last time on tomorrow’s It Takes Two at 6:30pm on BBC Two.