Susannah Constantine is the first to leave Strictly Come Dancing 2018

The first elimination of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing took place tonight and it was Susannah Constantine that left the competition.

In the dance-off against Lee Ryan and Nadiya Bychkova, Susannah and her partner Anton Du Beke danced their Foxtrot to They Can’t Take That Away From Me by Frank Sinatra. It was then over to the judges to make their decision about which couple they wanted to save.

Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood all voted to save Lee and Nadiya with Craig saying, “For me it’s a no brainer and the couple I would like to save is Lee and Nadiya.”

Head judge Shirley Ballas agreed with her fellow judges and chose to save Lee and Nadiya.

Speaking to Tess Daly after the result was announced, Susannah said: “I know it has gone a bit quick, but you know what I just feel so lucky to have had three weeks learning to dance with Anton and to have met all these amazing people. And for me they are the most important and I feel really privileged to have met them all, and it has been amazing. And thank you (judges) you’ve made the right choice you guys, Lee and Nadiya were brilliant but Anton is still the king!”

Anton added, “It’s just all too brief, I have had the most fabulous time with Susannah, she is going to be a great loss to the show. Sadly someone’s got to go but I wish it wasn’t you because you’re wonderful to be with. I’m going to miss spending time with you in the studio, we’ve had a great time, we’ve had enormous amounts of fun and you’re wonderful and thank you very much indeed.”

Tonight’s results show featured a group routine from the pros and a musical performance from George Ezra.

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday 6th October at 6.30pm with a Movie Special on BBC One. Take a look at all of tonight’s action in our gallery below: