Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Actress Ali Bastian tonight became the 13th celebrity to be voted off the seventh series of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One's Strictly Come Dancing.

In week 13 and the semi-finals of the competition, the three remaining celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners took to the floor to perform an Argentine Tango plus another dance of their choice.

Adding to the pressure of tonight's semi-final, the couples did not get a chance to be saved in the dance-off. Instead, the lowest scoring couple from the combination of the judges' scores and viewers' votes was automatically eliminated from the competition.

After performing the Argentine Tango and the American Smooth to Frank Sinatra's Come Dance With Me, Ali Bastian and her professional partner Brian Fortuna found themselves at the bottom of the leader board and therefore left the competition for good.

Ali Bastian, on how it felt to have come so close to the final, said: "It's devastating but, at the same time, I feel like we're going out on a tremendous high and it's been the most incredible experience and I've loved every minute of it.

"I want to thank everybody, thank you everyone at home for your support and thank you to all the crew and to everyone who makes this awesome show for us to be a part of.

"Can I just say thank you so much to Brian, thanks for everything."

Brian Fortuna said: "Ali, you've made this season absolutely magical for me. Thank you for that."

On tonight's show, Ali and Brian were awarded a total of 42 points for their Argentine Tango and the maximum score of 50 points for their American Smooth by the judges, giving them a final total of 92 points out of 100. But, sadly, it was not enough to keep them in the competition.

At the top of this week's main show, Strictly's professional dancers performed a Showdance to Red Light Spells Danger by Billy Ocean.

Viewers were also treated to a spectacular jive from guest judge Darcey Bussell and Ian Waite, who performed to Stuff Like That There by Bette Midler.

On tonight's separate results show, special guest Lily Allen performed her hit song Not Fair.

In addition, the World Showdance Champions, Craig Smith and Natalie Woolf, gave an electric performance to Alanis Morrisette's Uninvited and the cast of the hit musical Hairspray joined Strictly's professional dancers to perform You Can't Stop The Beat, accompanied by surprise guest and former Strictly Come Dancing star, Austin Healey.

In next week's series finale, it will be tougher than ever as Chris Hollins and Ola Jordan and Ricky Whittle and Natalie Lowe will be required to do a mammoth four dances each: their highest scoring ballroom dance, their highest scoring Latin dance, a 'No Holds Barred' showdance and a Lindy Hop as they compete for their last chance to win over the public and lift the coveted 2009 Strictly Come Dancing glitterball trophy.

Notes to Editors

Strictly Come Dancing is available on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ HD. Tune in to the series finale on Saturday 19 December 2009, at 6.35pm, with the results show at 8.40pm.

Don't forget you can get all the up-to-date gossip on Strictly Come Dancing's sister show, It Takes Two, weekdays at 6.30pm on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two.

For more information and gossip, visit bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing or follow us on Twitter: bbcstrictly.

IV/RB/KS3