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Strictly Come Dancing has eliminated the fifth celebrity contestant of the season, with fans torn by the outcome.

For the fifth time this year, the public cast their votes for their favourite couples on Saturday night (26 October) after Halloween week saw the duos don their scariest garb for some spooktacular performances.

Following a tense dance-off during Sunday night’s (27 October) results show, it is Dr Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez who have departed left the dancefloor for good.

Noticeably absent from the episode was professional dancer Amy Dowden who required medical attention shortly after her performance on Saturday night. Explaining her leave from the episode, a spokesperson for the BBC stated: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Amy Dowden MBE was unable to be in tonight’s results show.”

Krishan’s elimination follows after the judges unanimously voted to save Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu who also found themselves in the dance-off.

Both couples performed their Halloween Week routines again, with Punam and Marquez dancing their Tango to “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics. Meanwhile, Ward and Xu did their Paso Doble to “The Hall of the Mountain King” by Edvard Grieg.

Unfortunately for TV doctor Krishan, who made Strictly history with the show’s first-ever Bollywood routine, the judges made the unanimous decision to save Ward and Xu.

Since the judges – Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Aonton Du Beke – all agreed, head judge Shirley Ballas did not have to vote. She did, however, reveal that she would have voted in line with her fellow judges.

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The pair’s departure means there are only 10 couples left in the series, with the finale fast approaching and the competition heating up.

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The decision has left fans divided with some complaining that the judges made the wrong choice.

“Gutted for Gorka and Punam. They were in my fav top three,” one person wrote. “Shayne didn’t really dance, just waved a wand and walked around.”

Another person wrote: “Shane didn’t do any dancing for the first minute and then he was not in time with the music. Not happy with the decision.”

“I thought Punam should have stayed,” said someone else. “I felt that she improved on yesterday’s dance.”

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Most, however, accepted the decision as the right choice despite the fact they would miss seeing “lovely” Punam on screen.

“Right result but Punam has been lovely,” said someone else.

A third person added: “Arguably the right decision, but Punam seems utterly lovely and a very classy woman.”

“Such a shame – Punam seems like such a genuinely lovely person,” said someone else.

The mixed reaction does not come entirely as a surprise given that many viewers were unhappy with the judge’s criticism of Punam’s Halloween performance, which earned only 26 points. Ward and Xu received a total of 31 points.

“They are so harsh to Punam every week,” one person wrote at the time. “So harshly scored. Very frustrating.”

Asked by host Tess Daly about her time on the programme, Punam said: “I am really proud of myself. You know I’ve taken on something that’s so out of my comfort zone.

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“The one thing that I’ve very much learnt is to say yes more, and that there is no point in your life when you can stop learning new skills.”

Punam told Daly that her family are proud of her accomplishments on the series, going on to thank her professional partner for believing in her.

Marquez was full of praise for his partner: “It’s been incredible, it’s been a fantastic six weeks. I’m very proud of what she has achieved. She’s a GP and a Mum. She had never danced before and I think she improved week by week.”

Krishan’s exit follows the departure of footballer Paul Merson, who was eliminated last week, as well as Toyah Willcox, Nick Knowles and Tom Dean, who all left the competition in its earlier stages.

The remaining 10 couples will take to the dancefloor next week, as Strictly return on Saturday (2 November) with the results show following the night after (3 November).

STRICTLY Come Dancing’s latest elimination saw a tear-jerking goodbye to Dr Punam Krishan. 

The TV doctor, who was partnered with Gorka Márquez, said farewell to the show after falling into the dreaded dance-off on Halloween week. 

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As the BBC competition continued, Dr Punam and Gorka were forced to go head-to-head with Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu to fight for their place in the show. 

Re-performing their routines for the spooky-themed series, Punam and Gorka performed their Tango to Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics, before Shayne and Nancy performed a Paso Doble to In The Hall of The Mountain King by Edvard Grieg.  

The judges then decided unanimously to save Shayne and Nancy. 

Speaking to Tess Daly after her elimination was confirmed, Dr Punam said: “I am really proud of myself. You know I’ve taken on something that’s so out of my comfort zone. 

“The one thing that I’ve very much learnt is to say yes more, and that there is no point in your life when you can stop learning new skills.” 

“I’ve learnt more than dancing, I’ve learnt so much from Gorka,” she said of her partner.

“Everyone’s been so incredible and it’s just memories that I’ll take home forever and I am very proud. 

“I’ve made my family very proud, I’m just really grateful.” 

Speaking of her time on the series, Dr Punam said: “This is just one of those things that I have dreamt about for years and I think to have one of your dreams genuinely come true is just a surreal feeling. 

“Week after week it’s been incredible, I’ve made friends for life and everyone’s just been so kind, so thank you.” 

Gorka also heaped praise on his partner, telling her: “It’s been incredible, it’s been a fantastic six weeks. I’m very proud of what she has achieved. 

“She’s a GP and a mum, she had never danced before and I think she improved week by week.

“I think she is truly what the show is about, someone who doesn’t have experience in the performance world came here and learnt to dance. She wanted to do so well and worked so hard.” 

He also made a nod to their groundbreaking Bollywood performance from Movies Week two weeks ago, telling Tess: “I feel very proud and very honoured that  we got to do a Bollywood dance, to represent your culture, show your culture to the world and open doors for so many people in your culture.” 

The pair ended their goodbyes with Dr Punam saying: “Thank you. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for giving me the gift of dancing. I’ve never danced before, but you’ve definitely sparked so much dancing. 

“I want to learn more, and I definitely don’t think this will be the end of my journey dancing.”

During Sunday night’s results show, the professionals opened the evening with a Halloween-themed dance inspired by the movie Beetlejuice, with a live performance from Lady Blackbird. 

Unfortunately, Amy Dowden was missing from the festivities, after collapsing backstage and being rushed to hospital after Saturday’s live show. 

The pro dancer, who is partnered with JLS’s JB Gill, has just completed breast cancer treatment – was attended by paramedics at Elstree Studios before being transferred to hospital to be checked over. 

Strictly Come Dancing continues next Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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ALEXANDRA Burke has revealed she was asked to ‘bleach her skin’ by industry bosses after her X Factor win.

The singer-turned-actress shot to fame when she took part in the fifth series of the now-axed ITV show in 2008.

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Alexandra‘s incredible vocals and personality ultimately saw her scoop the X Factor crown as she released her winner’s single Hallelujah.

However, now 36, the star has revealed she was exposed to the brutality of the music industry following her win.

Alexandra has revealed top bosses asked her to ‘bleach her skin’ and was ordered not to braid her hair.

Looking back, she explained how it was “really hard” for her to experience microaggressions at such a young age.

She told The Mirror: “I did speak up about it on my Instagram a couple of years ago, and done a random 15 minute video on it. And I’m so pleased I did speak up about it, because a lot of people didn’t know what I’d gone through.

“It gave other people the courage to speak up about their own experiences, to whatever work space they’ve been involved in, not necessarily within the music industry but other people what they’ve been through, and speaking up about their own experiences.”

Alexandra – who went on to release three smash-hit studio albums – added that she “can’t change the past”.

“I have to let things go and I know my heart and I know what I’m about and what I represent,” she said.

After appearing in West End musical Sister Act, Alexandra landed her first role in brand new drama Curfew earlier this year.

The show is based on Jayne Cowie’s novel After Dark, which is set in a world where all men live under the “Women’s Safety Act” and are bound by a curfew.

Alexandra stars as a local teacher and close pal of Sarah’s police officer character.

Meanwhile, she was recently left stunned as her Middlesbrough goalkeeper boyfriend Darren, 37, got down on one knee during a romantic dinner.

Their engagement comes three years after they first started dating, with the pair already having two young children together.

NETFLIX fans have been left gripped by a new thriller movie they’re calling one of their favourites of the year. 

Don’t Move, a new film from producer Sam Raimi, tracks the story of Iris (played by Yellowstone’s Kelsey Asbille), a woman who finds herself in a dire situation in the middle of the forest of Big Sur, California. 

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Grieving the loss of her son, Mateo, she encounters a man called Richard (American Horror Story’s Finn Wittrock) who offers her comfort in a time of need. 

But just when she decides to head home, Richard tasers her, ties her up and injects her with a substance that gives her just 20 minutes before her entire body will shut down. 

Now she’s on a race against time to get to safety as the drug slowly begins to paralyse her and shut her down, stopping her being able to scream and over time, move. 

But as she goes on the run, Richard isn’t far behind her and is ready to make her his latest victim. 

The 92-minute movie has proven a hit with viewers, with Don’t Move shooting to number one on Netflix within days of its release. 

Sharing their feelings on X, one fan wrote: “Prepare yourself for an intense one if you plan to watch From the beginning until the end. Whew terrifying.” 

“This is what I was expecting when I saw the trailer. One and a half hour of pure suspense and tension,” another wrote, adding: “Kinda predictable but overall, an engaging thriller.”

Another agreed with the sentiment and said: “#DontMove was a tense watch.. Beautifully shot with good performances. Wouldn’t have minded to be put through the emotional wringer a bit more, but it was consistently engaging.” 

A third said: “#DontMove is an instant masterpiece by none other than Sam Raimi. Filled with spectacular shots & intense/grotesque scenes with an epic ending. Must watch!” 

“Don’t Move on Netflix is exactly why women would choose a bear lmao,” joked a fourth, in a reference to the viral question ‘would you choose to run into a bear or a man if you’re alone in the woods?’ 

“you know what… #DontMove on Netflix is actually very good! if you’re looking for something to watch… add it in your list tbh,” said another. 

The sleeper hit comes as Netflix drops some of its most anticipated films of the year – most notably Anna Kendrick’s Woman Of The Hour.

The Pitch Perfect star’s directorial debut follows the true crime story of Rodney Alcala, a Los Angeles serial killer in the 1970s who shot to notoriety after being caught, when it was discovered he was once a contestant on The Dating Game (the US equivalent of Blind Date).

The movie follows the unlucky ‘bachelorette’ who meets him as a result of the show, and her awkward interactions with him after picking him to go on a date with.

Don’t Move is available now on Netflix.

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