BBC Strictly Come Dancing said goodbye to one more celebrity and their professional dance partner ahead of the show’s 2024 final next weekend

Strictly Come Dancing waved goodbye to another duo on Sunday evening, with the grand 2024 final just around the corner.

In a tense episode, Pete Wicks and his dance partner Jowita Przystal faced their first dance-off against Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec.

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The two pairs reprised their performances, with Tasha and Aljaz delivering a graceful Waltz to Aretha Franklin’s (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, while Pete and Jowita brought intensity with their Argentine Tango to The Verve’s Bitter Sweet Symphony. Following the dance-off, judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke unanimously voted to save Tasha and Aljaz.

With three votes against them, Pete and Jowita’s Strictly journey came to an end, missing out on a coveted spot in the upcoming final. Head judge Shirley Ballas, although her vote was not needed, concurred with her fellow judges’ decision.

Reflecting on his Strictly experience, Pete emotionally summed it up: “It’s been beautiful!” He elaborated: “It’s been wild. I’ve been quite honest about the fact that I didn’t necessarily want to do this [Strictly] in the first place, but everyone else wanted me to do it, and I am so, so glad that I did it!”, reports the Mirror.

During the latest instalment, Pete Wicks and his professional dance partner Jowita Przystal found themselves in the dreaded dance-off (Image: BBC/Guy Levy)

Opening up about his experience, the contestant humbly remarked: “You don’t always have to be the best, but if you enjoy something then why shouldn’t you have a go at it? I’ve tried my best from day one, I said I was in for a penny, in for a pound and I’ve done it, it’s been beautiful.”

Expressing deep appreciation for his dance partner Jowita, he continued: “There’s a lot of things I’m going to take away from this, but one of the most special things is you [to Jowita] and I mean that, because you’re one of the most incredible people – not just as a dancer – but as a person.”

The star went on to share the impact Jowita had on him: “You’ve been a ray of sunshine for me. You’ve helped me through things in the past three months that I didn’t think I could do and you made me believe in myself and that means more to me than anything.”

Strictly Come Dancing bid farewell to one couple on Sunday night ahead of the show’s 2024 final (Image: BBC/Guy Levy)

Jowita, filled with emotion, responded: “I just want to say thank you, thank you for the trust you have given me since day one. I know it wasn’t easy, but with your hard work, your commitment and your heart, which is the most amazing thing, you were winning every week!”

She added with pride: “For me, every dance was special… even the Cha Cha in Blackpool! Remember on day one you said ‘I’m not going to stay long in this competition because I cannot dance’ but now I can say to you, yes you can.”

This now means that the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 finalists are Tasha and Aljaz, Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell, Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, and JB Gill and Lauren Oakley.