Low-scoring Matt stays to dance another day as fellow Eastender Letitia waltzes off Strictly

But as so often in this series of the BBC1 contest, form counted for nothing.

And Matt Di Angelo lived to shimmy another day, despite crippling nerves that saw him mess up both his dances.

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Viewers' votes kept the 20-year-old EastEnders actor out of the bottom two on Saturday, so he did not even have to go into the dance-off to secure his survival.

That battle was fought between former EastEnders actress Letitia Dean and singer Alesha Dixon, another shock because Miss Dixon has been widely regarded as the most consistent performer this series.

It was 40-year-old Miss Dean who became the tenth celebrity to be voted out.

She described her experience on the programme as "an amazing adventure".

Di Angelo had managed only 26 points for his foxtrot and 29 for his samba, making him ten points short of Miss Dean in the judges' view.

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This year's show has been dogged by claims it has become a popularity vote not a dance contest.

Many were bemused when Kate Garraway survived for weeks as the worst dancer, while superior dancers such as Gabby Logan were voted out.

The BBC changed the rules this year to try to prevent better dancers being axed. They gave judges the final say on who gets booted out.

But the public has regularly ensured that the worst dancers are often not in the last two when it comes to votes.

The fact that Di Angelo survived the axe after blundering through his two dances, now makes him favourite in many people's eyes.

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But he provoked a row between the judges, with Len Goodman threatening to walk out over Craig Revel Horwood's harsh criticism of the actor.

The show is still bringing in huge ratings, peaking at 11.2million viewers on Saturday night.

ITV's X Factor is also proving a hit, peaking at 10.6million viewers. Saturday's show saw Niki Evans miss out on a place in next week's grand final.

This will be fought out between Welsh singer Rhydian Roberts, English brother-sister act Same Difference and Scotsman Leon Jackson.

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