Strictly’s Blackpool special sees Judy Murray lose dance-off to Sunetra Sarker

(Image credit: BBC/Guy Levy)

From the beginning of this year’s Strictly contest, tennis coach Judy Murray’s dancing has been described by the judges as: “bizarre, stiff, appalling, criminal, pedestrian and being the Titanic of dance - starts well, finishes badly”.

Well, this week, Judy was finally sunk by her Viennese Waltz with Anton Du Beke.

Despite head judge Len Goodman and fellow judges Darcey Bussell and Craig Revel Horwood saying it was Judy’s “best dance so far”, it ended up being as far as Judy would go in the competition.

The dance-off saw Judy up against Casualty star Sunetra Sarker, whose samba with Brendan Cole “had a party mood”, said Bruno Tonioli, but didn’t excite all the judges.

“It was very disconnected,” Craig told Sunetra. “I felt like you were struggling with this one.”

Sunetra, though, insisted she gave the dance “my everything” and Len did say, “it was the most energetic I’ve seen you dance in the Latin dances”.

And she took her result in the bottom two with very good grace…

“It means I get to dance in Blackpool twice!” Sunetra smiled.

Judy was also gracious in defeat… “I’m actually delighted just to be here,” she said.

But after the dance-off, Judy won’t be on the dance floor any more.

Click here for our photo special of the dancers in Blackpool.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC1, Saturday, November 22, 7.00pm