Paul Merson became the fourth celebrity to depart the dancefloor in Strictly Come Dancing 2024 during Sunday night’s results show. 

The former footballer, 56, and his pro partner Karen Hauer left the competition following a dance off against JB Gill and Amy Dowden during the fourth results show of the series.

Both couples performed their routines again – Paul and his partner Karen, 42, performed their Samba to Car Wash by Rose Royce.

Then, JB and his partner Amy, 34, performed their Jive to Hey Ya! by Outkast.

After both couples had danced for a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts as Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke chose to save JB and Amy.

Paul Merson became the fourth celebrity to depart the dancefloor in Strictly Come Dancing 2024 during Sunday night’s results show

The former footballer, 56 and his pro partner Karen Hauer left the competition following a dance off against JB Gill and Amy Dowden during the fourth results show of the series

With three votes in favour of JB and Amy, they won the majority vote meaning that Paul and Karen would be leaving the competition.

Head Judge Shirley Ballas also agreed and said she would have decided to save JB and Amy.

When asked by host Tess Daly about their time on the show, Paul said: ‘It’s been really good. For anybody I talk to, I would say you’ve got to go on this show. It’s amazing – everybody.

‘There’s a Tottenham fan over there called Lincoln and even he’s nice!

‘It’s been amazing, honestly, amazing. I loved every minute of it, I’ve had a great teacher.

‘She’s been amazing, absolutely amazing and I couldn’t wish for a better coach. I’ve loved every minute of it.

‘I can dance now – I’ve won because I can dance, I couldn’t dance before and I can half dance now. It’s a bonus, absolute bonus.’

Karen then sweetly added: ‘Absolutely, you’ve been a joy. I’ve never giggled this much. My abs are really tight now. I am so proud of you. Every week you have showed up, you have improved.

‘You’re what Strictly is about and I want to thank you for bringing such joy and just showing everyone that it is possible with a little bit of work and lots of giggles.’

Both couples performed their routines again – Paul and his partner Karen, 42, performed their Samba to Car Wash by Rose Royce

After both couples had danced for a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts as Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke chose to save JB and Amy

With three votes in favour of JB and Amy, they won the majority vote meaning that Paul and Karen would be leaving the competition

When asked by host Tess Daly about their time on the show, Paul said: ‘It’s been really good. For anybody I talk to, I would say you’ve got to go on this show. It’s amazing – everybody’

Karen then sweetly added: ‘Absolutely, you’ve been a joy. I’ve never giggled this much. My abs are really tight now. I am so proud of you. Every week you have showed up, you have improved’

Sunday’s results show also featured a routine from the professional dancers, as Nancy Xu and Dianne Buswell took centre stage in a passionate Paso Doble.

Choreographed by Oti Mabuse, the number was set at a cantina in the heat of an arid highway somewhere in the Southern states to Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood by Santa Esmeralda.

Plus there was a musical performance from Sophie Ellis-Bextor singing her new single Freedom Of The Night.

The remaining 11 couples will take to the dancefloor next week for the Halloween Special.

It comes after during Saturday night’s show fans were left ‘fuming’ over the judges’ scoring for Wynne Evans and Katya Jones’s performance.

The Welsh opera star, 52, and professional dancer, 35, took to the Strictly floor again on Saturday for a slapstick comedy-themed Quickstep.

The routine earned the duo an impressive 33 out of 40, with Motsi and Shirley awarding them nines.

However fans were left unimpressed by the score, as they claimed Wynne and Katya had been over marked.

The performance came as the pair attempted to shake off the toe-curling viral moment that saw Katya move Wynne’s hand away from her waist and snubbed his attempt at a high-five with her.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, after their latest performance, fans slammed the judges for giving Wynne and Katya two nines.

They wrote: ‘How tf did wynne get NINES like that was a mid routine at best??’; ‘I actually can’t believe wynne got a 9! it was absolutely awful,’;

‘Jesus a 9 for Wynne someone in the Beeb is looking after their own that was 2 from me,’;

‘Wynne and Katya were totally overmarked, I know the judges want to save him but it doesn’t mean they will stay out of the bottom 2,’;

‘…. to give Wynne and Kataya two 9s for the worst dance tonight just shows how fixed it is. Trying to change the publics mind ? ….it ain’t gonna work,’;

‘How over the top do you have to go in marking Wynne & Katya 9 – ridiculous.. And all because of the bad behaviour last week that you don’t want anyone to believe…,’;

Plus there was a musical performance from Sophie Ellis-Bextor singing her new single Freedom Of The Night

The pop star looked incredible in a leggy gold ruffled dress as she belted out the hit to the audience

Strictly returns on Saturday October 26 at 18.25pm with the results show on Sunday at 19.20pm on BBC One and iPlayer

‘Disappointed with Wynne on #Strictly tonight! Am I the only one who saw him stumble at one point? And he still scores 9’s! How???’;

Ahead of their performance, the duo tried to mend their image amid the week of backlash.

But viewers were left with a sour taste in their mouths by the couple’s VT, branding it overly ‘wholesome’ and ‘cosy’ in a bid to put rumours of their feud to bed.

The clip saw the pair beaming as they climbed a Welsh mountain before Wynne gave Katya a piggyback.