Strictly Come Dancing professional Kai Widdrington has broken his silence after his exit from the BBC series alongside veteran broadcaster Angela Rippon. The duo became the eighth couple to be eliminated from the ballroom competition after going up against Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell in the dreaded dance-off.
Taking to Instagram after judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood had made their decisions, Kai sent a sweet message to Angela and said: "What an amazing 10 weeks with the legend that is @theangelarippon.
"We promised we’d be 'Rippon' up the dance floor and we did. Thank you to all the people that supported our journey and a huge thanks to Angela - you never complained once despite the injuries, the brutal training regime and the increasingly complex routines."
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He added: "It was my pleasure and a privilege to dance with you, you taught us all that age really is just a number. We’ll see you all for the live shows in January and I promise, we might be out but we’ll still keeeeeeeep dancing."
Angela also shared a message on social media, as she told her followers: "Well, what an adventure it has been. I’m not sure I have the words quite yet to describe just how incredible Strictly is but I am so proud to have made it to Blackpool week.
"Thank you all so much for your kind messages, comments and support over the past couple of months. It means the world to @kaiwidd and myself that so many of you have loved watching us dance and have voted for us each week.
"This is not the end of my Strictly journey as I will be joining the national tour @strictlycomedancinglive in the new year and I hope to meet as many of you as I can out on the road. But for now, it’s goodbye and thank you all once again."
The statements come after BBC viewers were left floored on Sunday night after learning that Kai was only 28 years old. During her exit speech, Angela told presenter Tess Daly: "He's an old soul on young shoulders. He’s 28 and I’m 79, there’s a 51-year difference in our ages. He has looked after me so brilliantly, he’s a wonderful dancer, a great choreographer, but he’s a terrific teacher… and he has the patience of a saint."
Commenting on the detail, one fan wrote: "The real shock there was being told Kai is only 28! What a gracious exit for him & Angela though. No clear next one out. Will depend on the dances they get & how well they are suited to them from now on."
While another added: "Everyone now googling to check Kai really is only 28! I can confirm he really is!" and a third said: "I will never get over the fact that Kai Widdrington is only 28."
The remaining six couples will take to the dancefloor next when Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday November 25 at 7.30pm, with the results show on Sunday at 7.20pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. For more showbiz and television stories, get our newsletter here.
