Strictly Come Dancing 2023 results: Annabel Croft is the tenth star to leave the show after facing Bobby Brazier in dance off revealing the three finalists

Annabel Croft was the tenth star to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2023 following Sunday’s dreaded dance off.

The former tennis star, 57, and her professional partner Johannes Radebe narrowly missed on a place in the final, after facing Bobby Brazier in the dreaded dance off.

It was an emotional exit for the pair as Annabel told Johannes he had given her a ‘reason to get out of bed’ again – after the tragic death of her husband of 30 years Mel Coleman in May this year. 

Meanwhile Johannes’s struggled to hold back tears and his voice cracked as he told her ‘my life is richer with you in it’.  

Annabel had performed both the salsa and a Viennese waltz during Saturday’s show, but found herself at the bottom of the leaderboard. 

After being eliminated, Annabel gushed: ‘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.’

Turning to her partner Johannes, she added: ‘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 replied: ‘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 then added: ‘It’s honestly been the most incredible rollercoaster ride. I’ve really had every type of emotion you could imagine. It’s the most magical show.’

Meanwhile Bobby and Dianne were filmed sobbing as they took to the floor for their final dance.  

Fans were also left in floods of tears after Annabel’s emotional exit. 

One said: ‘Never ever felt this sad over an elimination before, Annabel Croft was absolutely wonderful and gracious to follow in the last 2 months seeing her progression and determination. 

‘She’s been an outstanding competitor and Johannes was the perfect partner for her.’

A second added: ‘Dammit why do Johannes and Annabel keep making us cry.’

A third said they were ‘blubbing’ as they watched the emotional semi-final result.  

After Annabel ended up in the bottom two of the vote, she and Bobby performed their favourite routine of the night again for the judges.

First up, Bobby and his dance partner Dianne Buswell performed their Quickstep to Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin.

Then Annabel and Johannes danced their Viennese Waltz to Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want by Slow Moving Millie.

After both couples had danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts, with Craig Revel Horwood choosing to save Annabel and Johannes.

He said: ‘Well, one dance was flashy, one dance was quiet. I think both couples have equalised completely. 

‘I saw improvement in this one couple and based on this dance and nothing in the past but this dance alone, the person which I think had the most exquisite technique is Annabel and Johannes.’

However, Motsi Mabuse chose to save Bobby and Dianne, saying: ‘Well, first of all I have to say this was a really tough one tonight, I think both couples danced really well, and after the dance off I stood there for a few seconds making my decision.

‘There was one dance where there was a slight hesitation at a turn, one slight hesitation was the decision, and I will be saving Bobby and Dianne.

Anton Du Beke also chose to save Bobby and Dianne, saying: ‘Well the semi-final, I mean it’s going to enormously disappointing for somebody, but I also think its celebration of how well you’ve both done and how far you’ve come and how wonderfully you’ve danced through the whole series. 

‘It was a very close run thing and literally because of a coming out of a pivoting section wasn’t as clean as they would have liked and I would have liked, I’m going to be saving Bobby and Dianne.’

With two votes to Bobby and Dianne, and one to Annabel and Johannes it meant Head Judge Shirley Ballas had the casting vote, and she decided to save Bobby and Dianne.

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.’

Annabel then 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 jigsaw 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.’

Annabel’s exit means that the 2023 finalists have been revealed as Bobby and Dianne, Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola and Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin.

Earlier on in the results show, the professional dancers put on a spectacular and festive group number. 

They opened what is the final separate results show of the series – and were even joined at the end by a golden retriever called Mr Darcy.  

They will take to the dancefloor next week for the final time as they bid to lift the Glitterball Trophy.

Strictly Come Dancing: The Final airs live on Saturday December 16 at 7pm, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.