Strictly Come Dancing: All the celebrities who have left the show in week one

The current series of Strictly will say goodbye to its first celebrity tonight 
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Isobel Frodsham30 September 2019
The Weekender

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In the 15 years Strictly Come Dancing has been on our screens, a wide range of stars have sashayed, waltzed and foxtrotted their way across the ballroom.

After they have strutted their stuff on Saturdays, the audience then casts their votes for their favourite dancers.

But unfortunately, not all of them can make it through each week, meaning every Sunday one dancing couple must go.

Tonight's episode will see someone tasked with the unwanted job of leaving first - but their early exits do not mean they are forgotten.

So, what became of the others who were first out of the competition?

Here's who they were paired with and what they got up to after leaving the show...

2018: Susannah Constantine and Anton Du Beke

PA

The style consultant has had a long career of working in fashion, journalism and presenting for more than two decades before joining the competition.

Since being booted off Strictly, she has become a Daily Mail columnist too, writing The Time of Our Lives with Susannah Constantine.

2017: Chizzy Akudolu and Pasha Kovalev

The actress is known for playing Mo Effanga in Holby City but has starred in various other programmes, such as Twenty Twelve, Silent Witness and the InBetweeners.

She returned to Holby City last year.

2016: Melvin Odoom and Janette Manrara

Having forged a career in presenting - in particular working with fellow broadcasters Rickie Haywood-Williams and Charlie Hedges - Odoom's career has continued to grow over the last few years.

Odoom, Haywood-Williams and Hedges built up a strong following while hosting the Kiss breakfast show before being scouted by the BBC last year. They now host the 9pm to 11pm slot on Radio One.

2015: Iwan Thomas and Ola Jordan

After a remarkable career winning Commonwealth and European titles - and belatedly being named a world champion in 2003 after Antonio Pettigrew was stripped of the title - Thomas retired in 2006.

He has since moved into broadcasting, earning presenting jobs including one presenting Channel 4's coverage of the London Paralympics.

He has continued with presenting post Strictly.

2014: Gregg Wallace and Aliona Vilani

The market seller-turned-entrepreneur has had a successful broadcasting career for a number of years.

Since he bowed out of Strictly in week two (eliminations have always begun a fortnight into the competition), he has continued present MasterChef with John Torode, began co-presenting Inside the Factory and fronted historical game show Time Commanders.

His eighth book, Gregg's Italian Family Cookbook, was released this year.

2013: Tony Jacklin and Aliona Vilani

Jacklin is a champion golfer who won the Ryder Cup three times, the US open and the Open Championship.

Unfortunately, his footwork on the dancefloor left a lot to be desired and he made the earliest possible exit from the competition.

He continues to do media work, after dinner speaking and offers consultancy advice on golf course design.

2012: Johnny Ball and Aliona Vilani

The father of It Takes Two presenter Zoe Ball, Johnny had a lucrative career in the '70s and '80s presenting science and technology programmes.

He joined the competition in 2012 as the oldest contestant in the show’s history - aged 72 at the time. In 2017 he published his most recent book, “Wonders Beyond Numbers - A Brief History of all things Mathematical”. He is continuing to work as a speaker for schools and conferences, voiceovers, award ceremony hosting and commercials.

2011: Edwina Currie and Vincent Simone

The former politician has forayed into media and writing books since losing her Conservative south Derbyshire seat in 1997.

After starring in Strictly, she was in the 14th series of I’m A Celebrity in 2014, finishing in fourth place.

Earlier this year, she appeared in an episode of Celebrity Mastermind.

2010: Goldie and Kristina Rihanoff

PA

The musician is known for his pioneering role in the 1990s UK jungle, drum and bass and breakbeat hardcore scenes. He also starred in EastEnders from 2001 to 2002 and Guy Ritchie’s Snatch.

After dancing on Strictly in 2010, he released his Best Of album in 2013 and in 2016, he was given an MBE for services to music and young people.

He now works as artist too and shares his works on Instagram: @goldenartisanasia.

2009: Martina Hingis and Matthew Cutler

The Swiss tennis pro previously announced she was retiring for a second time in 2007 after taking time out from the sport in 2003 due to injuries.

At the start of 2010, she defeated former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, sparking rumours she would return to tennis. She then committed to a full season with the World TeamTennis tour in 2010.

Three years later, she announced she was officially coming out of retirement again and continued to play in doubles, rapidly rising to the top ranks of women's tennis.

She is also one of the elite group of players who have reached the finals in all four Grand Slams across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles after reaching the French Open mixed doubles finals in 2016.

2008: Phil Daniels and Flavia Cacace

(BBC)

Daniels is known for his role in EastEnders having played Kevin Wicks, who was killed off from the show in 2007.

Following his roles on Rock & Chips, New Tricks and Poirot, he scooped the part of Danny Jones in The Hatton Garden Job – a 2017 movie about the infamous Hatton Garden heist.

More recently, Daniels starred in the television series Sliced and is currently completing post production for Adult Material.

2007: Brian Capron and Karen Hardy

Best known for his role in Coronation Street as serial killer Richard Hillman, Capron starred on the soap opera until 2003.

He then played Nathan Detroit on the Guys and Dolls tour opposite actress Claire Sweeney.

After Strictly, he has starred in a variety of TV shows, including Doctors, Midsomer Murders and Staff Room.

2006: Nicholas Owen and Nicole Cutler

Journalist Owen began his broadcasting career working for the BBC in 1981 before moving to ITN in 1984. He was the broadcaster’s Royal Correspondent until 2000, when he began reading ITN’s lunchtime news from 2003 until 2006.

After the show, he rejoined the BBC in 2007. On Saturdays, Owen also presents the 12pm to 3pm slot on Classic FM.

2005: Siobhan Hayes and Matthew Cutler

The actress joined the programme while starring as Abi Harper in My Family – a role she held until 2008. Since the series finished, she has had roles in Doctors, Crime Stories, Murder on the Home Front and Holby City.

She also played “Mum” in Horrid Henry: The Movie and was cast as Melinda, the partner of Ricky Butcher, in EastEnders.

2004 Quentin Wilson and Hazel Newberry

(BBC)

In 2014, there were two series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Wilson starred in the second one where he got the lowest score in the show’s history after receiving 8 out of 40 points, prompting Craig Revel-Horwood to dub him “Britain's Worst Dancer.”

Despite the crushing comment from Craig, Wilson has revelled in receiving the lowest score, dubbing it his “proudest television achievement” on his website.

Since leaving the show, the motoring journalist successfully lobbied ministers to help motorists save £20 billion in fuel duty and VAT thanks to his FairFuelUk petition.

Wilson has also continued writing for newspapers and also books – including Ultimate Classic Car and Learn to Drive Without Tears and Tantrums.

2004: Jason Wood and Kylie Jones

The comedian was the first ever person to leave the show. Afterwards, Wood continued to perform as a comedian before his tragic death in 2010 at the age of 38.

His agents, Hannah Chambers and Sophie Church, said at the time: “We are devastated by the loss of our client Jason Wood. He was an inspiring and individual performer who believed that 'variety' was the spice of life and whose wind ups were legendary.

"He was also a warm-hearted and caring man. We have lost a friend as well as a client and he will be truly missed."

Strictly Come Dancing airs tonight at 7.15pm on BBC One.

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