Wildlife presenter Steve Backshall out of Strictly Come Dancing 2014

Wildlife presenter Steve Backshall has become the eighth celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing.

Steve and partner Ola Jordan found themselves in the dance off alongside Casualty actress Sunetra Sarker and Brendan Cole in tonight’s results programme.

In a bid to impress the judges and secure their place in the competition, each couple performed their routine from Saturday again with Steve and Ola doing an American football inspired jive to Little Bitty Pretty One and Sunetra and Brendan performing a waltz to Last Request by Paolo Nutini.

After both couples had danced for survival the judges delivered their verdicts with Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli choosing to save Sunetra and Brendan.

Darcey Bussell opted to save Steve and Ola, leaving the casting vote with head judge Len Goodman who said: “My heart goes out to both of the couples in the dance off, to come out and give it all they had – the couple that were the cleanest and for me the better couple on tonight’s performance – Sunetra and Brendan”.

“I’ll be gutted to go but the first thing I have to say is to this extraordinary lady, walking out on Blackpool Ballroom floor with all that nostalgia and history, with a dancer of your calibre, being taught to dance by you is an experience I’ll never forget and I am so, so privileged by that.” – Steve Backshall

Tonight’s results show also featured a performance from Barry Manilow singing Copacabana and What A Wonderful World. Strictly pros Aljaž Skorjanec and Joanne Clifton performed alongside.

Strictly Come Dancing returns next Saturday, 29th November at 7.00pm, with the results show on Sunday 30th November at 7.15pm on BBC One and BBC One HD.