Hingis bows out of 'Strictly'
Tennis player Martina Hingis last night became the first celebrity to be voted off 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
The casting vote of judging chairman Len Goodman saved 'Crimewatch' presenter Rav Wilding and sent Hingis packing after the two celebrities came bottom in the viewers' poll.
"It was a great experience, I learned so much," she said.
"I wish it would continue but here we are. Maybe I will come back for a few more lessons to London."
It was the first time the contestants had faced the public vote in this, the seventh series.
Phone votes were added to the judges' scores and the two pairs with the lowest score had to dance again to try to save themselves.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood said both couples "improved dramatically" but voted to save Hingis and her dance partner Matthew Cutler.
It looked like Hingis would be going through when panel newcomer Alesha Dixon cast her vote for them too.
However, when judge Bruno Tonioli chose to save Wilding and his partner Aliona Vilani, Goodman was left with the casting vote.
"They were very close during the competition, but here in this dance off I thought one did improve and one under-performed. And the one I'm saving is Rav and Aliona," he said.
Wilding now joins 'EastEnders' actor Ricky Groves, BBC sports reporter Chris Hollins, athlete Jade Johnson, boxer Joe Calzaghe and actresses Ali Bastian and Lynda Bellingham in the next round in two weeks' time.
Next week the remaining eight couples will compete for the first time.
The celebrity dancers are former 'EastEnders' actress Natalie Cassidy, 'Footballers' Wives' stars Zoe Lucker and Laila Rouass, Jo Wood, the estranged wife of Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, former jockey Richard Dunwoody, 'Coronation Street' actor Craig Kelly, former cricketer Phil Tufnell and 'Hollyoaks' star Ricky Whittle.
The BBC has said it is "delighted" with former 'Strictly' champion Dixon's debut as a judge, despite calls for her to quit.
The decision to replace choreographer Arlene Phillips, 66, with Dixon, 30, has been controversial from the off, with some critics claiming it was ageist.
Her first week as a judge has attracted criticism from some fans who have moaned that she lacks technical knowledge and her comments have been bland.
A BBC spokesman said: "We are delighted at Alesha's debut performance as part of the judging panel on Strictly Come Dancing and we know millions tuned in to enjoy the show."
