Welsh Opera singer Wynne Evans and his professional dance partner Katya Jones have become the eighth pair to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing 2024.

Strictly Come Daning returned to Blackpool this weekend, a location that has been the hit BBC show's "second home" since 2004.

Love Island star Tasha Ghouri (and professional partner Aljaž Škorjane) once again topped the leaderboard in week nine with a score of 39.

While Sarah Hadland and her partner Vito Coppola, joined them at the top after the judges awarded them the same score for their routine on Saturday (November 16) night.

Pete Wicks produced the lowest score of the evening with 27 following his cha cha to I’m Too Sexy by Right Said Fred.

Saturday night also saw comedian Chris McCausland and professional dance partner Dianne Buswell become the 100th Strictly couple to perform in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

Wynne Evans eighth celebrity eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2024

Evans and Jones found themselves in the bottom two opposite former Olympian and Gladiators star Montell Douglas and her partner Johannes Radebe on Sunday (November 17) following the public vote.

The BBC Radio Wales presenter, who is known for the Go.Compare insurance advertisements, failed to impress the judges after redoing his Charleston routine in the dance-off during the Strictly results show.

The judges therefore unanimously voted to save Douglas, who performed a Salsa to Don’t Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston.

Following the announcement, Evans said: "It’s been wonderful, I’ve got to say.

“I feel like it’s what Strictly is all about.

“If I can come and do Strictly and last until week nine, then anybody can get out there and dance and have a brilliant time.

“Strictly is such a brilliant family, such a precious family, that I want everybody here in this room and at home to look after it for the generations to come because it is a wonderful, wonderful thing."

Wynne Evans follows the likes of Nick Knowles, Tom Dean and Toyah Willcox in being voted off Strictly Come Dancing 2024.Wynne Evans follows the likes of Nick Knowles, Tom Dean and Toyah Willcox in being voted off Strictly Come Dancing 2024. (Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire) Evans continued: “To have been partnered with Katya has been amazing and coming every Saturday night to hang out with these guys (my other contestants), that’s been wonderful.

“But to spend every weekday dancing has been just fantastic.

“I’ve grown so much and I’m so thankful to have met this person (Katya).”

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Jones added: "To be honest with you, the smile hasn’t left my face since the first day of our training, since the day we got partnered up.

“You (Wynne) have made this experience so joyous and so full of laughter for me.

“I’m sure everybody was jealous because you’re the kind of guy that everybody wants in their life.

“You bring light, you bring laughter, you bring charisma, you fill up every room you walk into with those qualities.”

It hasn't been all smooth sailing for Evans and Jones during their time on Strictly.

The pair were forced to apologise back in week four of the show for a “joke” that saw Jones move Evans’s hand from her waist.

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Following the incident he said on his radio show that he was “absolutely heartbroken” by the backlash, and felt the moment had been “totally misinterpreted”.

Sunday's show also saw the Pet Shop Boys perform their new single All The Young Dudes, and the professional dancers do a sultry routine to Jacob Gade’s Jalousie tango.

The remaining seven couples will take to the dancefloor again next Saturday (November 23) when Strictly Come Dancing returns on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7.05pm.