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Rachel Riley is fifth celebrity to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing

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Countdown presenter Rachel Riley  was the fifth star to leave Strictly Come Dancing , losing the dance off to "gorgeous" model Abbey Clancy.

Rachel took to the dance floor with her professional partner Pasha Kovalev, but the duo's American Smooth to Put A Spell On You by Screamin' Jay Hawkins was not enough to save them.

© Photo: BBC

"I haven't cried until now, I have made some amazing friends," said Rachel as she exited the competition. "I really enjoyed tonight, I really enjoyed yesterday's dance so I'm really pleased to go out on a high.

"Abbey is just gorgeous — a gorgeous dancer, a gorgeous girl and I have no shame in getting knocked out to her. I have just loved it — from the make-up, to the hair — the whole show.

"This was the second time Rachel and Pasha have been placed in the bottom two.

"He is just the nicest person in the world," said the blonde beauty, speaking about her dancing coach. "He couldn't have looked after me better, it has just been an absolute pleasure."

"Well we started from zero and look where we are now," replied Pasha. "It was amazing to work with you and I'm sorry it has to finish this way. "The couple scored 30 — their highest score so far, with head judge Len Goodman calling their performance their "best dance yet".

© Photo: BBC

Fellow judges Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood unanimously decided to save Abbey and her professional dance partner Aljaž Skorjanec, with Len agreeing that he would have voted the same way.

Abbey and Aljaž did their Rumba to Stay by Shakespeare's Sister, with the stunning model struggling to hold back tears before the dance off.

"It's just made me realise how much I don't want to leave," said Abbey. "I don’t want to be in it with Rachel as she is my best friend."