The first Strictly Come Dancing results show of the season brought an emotional end to one star's journey, as the competition saw its first elimination of the year on Sunday night.

Following an unpredictable night of high-scoring performances from the 15 celebrity contestants, two of the lowest-scoring dancers were forced to compete in a nail-biting dance-off to save their places in the contest.

The celebrities who found themselves in the bottom two were eventually revealed to be the couple who impressed the judges the least with their Saturday night performances, forcing them to prepare for the dance-off within a remarkably short space of time.

As the evening unfolded, all celebrities and professional dancers, including the two couples awaiting the results, were given an extended glimpse into the Strictly Come Dancing experience and the weight of disappointment associated with the sudden elimination that one of the competing pairs would soon have to endure.

The tense dance-off took place in front of a packed live studio audience, the judges’ panel of Anton Du Beke, Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse, who all made their decision on the evening’s winner and loser after witnessing the two pairs perform their respective routines for one final time. In their ultimate verdict, they named the celebrity who they were reluctant to part with and, so sadly for the losing couple, reluctantly bid their farewells.

The unfortunate couple on the receiving end of the devastating blow then delivered their last, heartfelt words of gratitude as their time on Strictly Come Dancing reached its first poignant culmination, marking an evening that brought tears to the eyes of many viewers watching nationwide.