Ed Balls eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing

The former shadow chancellor became a fan favourite during his time on the BBC One competition and many have questioned whether he would pick up his political career not that his run on the dancefloor is over.

But Redknapp won the show’s first ever Cha Cha Challenge, which saw all six couples dance at the same time.

But tonight he and his dance partnet Katya Jones were finally defeated by Judge Rinder and Oksana Platero in the dance-off. Did anybody think I would get to week 10?

“It’s because you work with somebody, in my case an fantastic teacher, who invests all of her emotional and creative capital into making you look good, so you’re desperate for it to go well as much as for them as for yourself”.

I said to the BBC a few weeks ago, ‘I refuse to be fired out of a cannon’.

Rinder admitted he has always been into fitness, but said the added benefit of dancing for so many hours each week is that “you can eat whatever you want”. Absolutely fantastic. She is utterly brilliant.

Acknowledging the support of the public that had him dancing week after week, against the odds, he said: “For all the people who kept me in for this long, thank you”.

Darcey Bussell chose to save Judge Rinder and Oksana and said; “The couple I would like to save just on their better technical ability is Judge Rinder and Oksana”.

His dancing was described as like “junk food” by judge Bruno Tonioli, who added “you know it’s bad for you but you just can’t help it”.

Judge Rinder said: “He is decent and amusing and passionate and authentic”, while Louis Redknapp added: “Ed is going to be hugely missed”.

Head judge Len Goodman, for whom the current 14th series will be his last, paid a generous tribute to the ex-politician.

The remaining five couples will return to the dance floor in the quarter final of the competition on Saturday.

Dance lovers will be able to see the BBC’s flagship TV show come to life at cities across the country, including Newcastle, Sheffield, Leeds and London, although Balls will not be appearing at the Manchester shows.