Corrie actor Craig Kelly last night became the latest celebrity to be booted off Strictly Come Dancing. And he wasn’t a happy bunny about it…

Speaking of his 17 point score last night, Craig told the PA, “That’s disgraceful, I can’t believe that.”

He added that he thought the judges had been far too harsh on his Cha Cha.

However, as he left the show, Craig said, “I feel amazing really. It’s great that I made it to Blackpool.”

Meanwhile, ex-Eastender Ricky Groves was saved by the judges vote and apparently all the judges are “backing him to stay”.

Ali Bastian sailed through with a perfect score of 40 for her Viennese waltz, and second on the leader board was another Hollyoaks actor, Ricky Whittle who scored 35 points for his Tango.

Last night’s show was broadcast from the famous Tower Ballroom where the dance floor is around twice the size of that which the dancers are used to, however, despite Bruce Forsyth commenting that the floor felt “like a trampoline”, it clearly suited some of the contestants.

And an appearance by Jill Halfpenny went down a storm and showed she’s lost none of her dancing panache since 2004 when she won the show.

Strictly Come Dancing contestants arrived in Blackpool yesterday ahead of tonight’s show which will be broadcast from the town’s famous Tower Ballroom.

The dancers all quickly got into the “seaside spirit” and put on Kiss Me Quick hats as well as souvenir t-shirts and posed for pictures with buckets and spade…

The Tower Ballroom was the original home of Strictly’s forerunner, Come Dancing, and the show has previously been aired from the location in 2004.

And apparently, the contestants will also be dropping in on The Winter Gardens where a special BBC event is being held to encourage people to take part in a “mass dance.”

Craig Kelly has claimed that he won’t make the Strictly Come Dancing final but said that he is happy to have made it as far as the Blackpool stage of the show.

Speaking on Channel 4’s Paul O’Grady show, he said: “I’m happy because I won’t make the final. I’m just okay and the others are great.

“I am so happy to be going to Blackpool this weekend though. It was my absolute goal to make it there.”

Kelly also admitted that he was sure he’d be a better at dancing as his Grandma was once a ballroom dancer.

“My mum told me that our gran was a great ballroom dancer in her time. I thought, ‘great, I’ve got a bit of a chance then’,” he said. “I thought I’d be much better than I am. Just goes to show doesn’t it?”

Former Strictly Come Dancing competitor Julian Clary, has admitted that he is missing Arlene Phillips on this year’s show.

Julian appeared on Scottish chatshow The Hour and when asked if he is watching the current series, Clary replied: “I am, but I’m missing Arlene Phillips a bit this year. She was like a mother to me when I did that show, unlike Craig Revel Horwood, who’s like an uncle you wouldn’t want to be left on your own with.”

He continued: “I do think it’s ageism really, because I can’t think why else. She knew her stuff, and there’s an awful rumour that Bruce Forysth might be next and they’re going to replace him with someone younger.”

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Jade Johnson has reportedly been losing her temper with her partner Ian Waite, after she struggled to master this week’s dance The Jive.

An insider told The Sun: “Jade is a really strong personality. She’s in it to win it and she won’t accept second best from herself – or Ian. They are getting very frustrated and Jade is used to picking things up much more quickly than this.

“There have been a lot of cross words and everything has got a bit emotional.”

Jade and Ian scored their highest marks last week (35 out of 40), but still ended up in the bottom two.

A source said:

“They are falling out, but they always make up. Everything looks effortless on the dance floor but in reality it’s a long and hard slog. Being a contestant on Strictly is not an easy ride whether you’re a celebrity or a professional.”

Jools Oliver has admitted that she would love to appear on Strictly Come Dancing next year.

“I’d love to go on Strictly Come Dancing,” she told Red.

The wife of celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver admitted that she has chatted to her husband about going on the show.

“I asked him that the other day,” she explained. “What if I got a great opportunity? He couldn’t stay at home and I wouldn’t want a full-time nanny. He said, ‘We’d have to rethink’. Truth is, Jamie would never change his job – but it was sweet of him to offer.”

Rod Stewart has been revealed as the musical guest for this Saturday’s Strictly Come Dancing, which comes live from Blackpool Tower Ballroom, the home of ballroom dancing. Rod will be performing the hit ‘Same Old Song’ – and will be joined by his wife, and former Strictly contestant, Penny Lancaster, making it a real family affair!

Penny will be teaming up with Strictly professional dancer, Matthew Cutler, to perform a Cha Cha Cha during Rod’s performance. This will be the first time that Penny has returned to the show since competing in series five in 2007. Penny didn’t get to perform the Cha Cha Cha when she was on the show so it’s a dance she has waited a long time to do.

Rod and Penny will be flying up to Blackpool in their own private jet, while the rest of the Strictly crew will be travelling up by coach. Strictly professional dancer, Ian Waite, partnered Penny when she was on Strictly so he may try to cadge a lift for him and Jade!

- Strictly Come Dancing, BBC One – Saturday 7th November 6.25pm

Actress Zoe Lucker tonight became the seventh celebrity to be voted off the seventh series of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing.

In week seven of the competition, all 10 of the remaining celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners took to the floor to perform a variety of dances.

After tonight’s performance, the combination of the judges’ scores and viewers’ votes left Zoe Lucker and her professional partner James Jordan in the bottom two and facing the dance off with Ali Bastian and her professional partner Brian Fortuna.

Zoe and James then performed their Samba to Boogie Nights and Ali and Brian performed their Paso Doble to El Gato Montes for a second time for the judges’ deciding vote.

Handing over to the judges, Bruce Forsyth said “All I can say is I wouldn’t like to be a judge tonight”. Making their decision on who to save, the judges said.

Craig Revel Horwood: “Well what a heinous dilemma, I have to say, both couples mucked up and timing was out, for both couples that is, but I am going to save Ali and Brian.”

Alesha Dixon when asked who she would save: “Both!….Zoe and James.”

Bruno Tonioli: “They shouldn’t be there either of them, it’s ridiculous because whoever we are going to save, it’s not fair for the other person. Based on what I saw, I have to go with Ali and Brian.”

Len Goodman: “I’m sorry I know the viewers can do what they like and it’s a popularity contest and all that, this is ludicrous, it’s nonsensical that either of these are in the bottom two! There are five couples that are worse than these, but I’ve got to make a decision and as somebody said they both did go wrong, and I’m having to save Ali and Brian.”

On tonight’s show, Zoe Lucker and James Jordan were awarded 32 points for their samba by the judges.

On leaving the competition, Zoe Lucker said: “I’ve had an amazing time, James is the best teacher I have to say. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get him to Blackpool but thank you very much for the opportunity, it’s been brilliant.”

James Jordan said: “Can I just say, winning that Strictly trophy ball means everything to me, but I would never swap this wonderful lady for that ball. She’s brilliant, she’s brilliant.”

The Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers have been complaining about their pay once more. This time they are reportedly up in arms over their salary for the upcoming tour.

The News of the World reports that celebrities will be paid £11,000 a week for the tour, while the professional dancers will only be paid £5,500 per week.

“Yet again, it’s one law for the celebs and another for us dancers,” one of the professionals said. “Often dancers are bigger stars than the celebs. Take Ola Jordan – she is a far bigger draw than, say, Lynda Bellingham. We feel like we are being treated as second-class citizens.

“We think we should be getting more than last year and our pay should be more in line with the celebrities.”

A BBC source said: “There was some disquiet from a minority of the dancers about the level of pay. But the tour will go ahead as planned and be brilliant.”

Strictly Come Dancers, Jade Johnson and Ian Waite were involved in a car crash yesterday. The pair were traveling to the rehearsal studios when the two car collision occurred.

A source on the BBC1 show told The Sun: “Ian and Jade were quite shaken up. They were saying, ‘Oh my God, we’ve just crashed.

“But once they realised it wasn’t too serious they were fine and got on with training when they reached the BBC’s Television Centre in west London.

“They think it might have happened when the car went over a boulder in the road.”