‘Strictly Come Dancing’ has lost its first couple of the current series, with Susannah Constantine and Anton Du Beke bowing out of the show.

It’s not unfair to say that Susannah hasn’t exactly been the most celebrated of this year’s contestants, bagging just one point from Craig Revel Horwood after both of her performances.

In the first dance off of the series, she and Anton went head to head with former Blue singer Lee Ryan and his partner Nadiya Bychkova, though the judges were unanimous in their decision.

Craig Revel Horwood kicked things off, saying that saving Lee and Nadiya was a “no-brainer”, while Darcey Bussell noted: “Both couples made a great improvement tonight, thank you. But the couple I would like to save on a more rounded, stronger performance is Lee and Nadiya.”

Bruno Tonioli then sealed Susannah and Anton’s fates, saying it was “obvious” that he would have to send them home.

The former ‘What Not To Wear’ star said: “I know it has gone a bit quick, but you know what I just feel so lucky to have had three weeks learning to dance with Anton and to have met all these amazing people. And for me they are the most important and I feel really privileged to have met them all, and it has been amazing.”

Conceding that Lee and Nadiya were the superior couple, she added: “But Anton is still the king.”

Anton – who, in 16 series, has never been the first professional eliminated – lamented: “It’s just all too brief, I have had the most fabulous time with Susannah, she is going to be a great loss to the show. Sadly someone’s got to go but I wish it wasn’t you because you’re wonderful to be with.

“I’m going to miss spending time with you in the studio, we’ve had a great time, we’ve had enormous amounts of fun and you’re wonderful and thank you very much indeed.”

Lee and Nadiya live to fight another week, as do the remaining 13 couples, who will hit the dance floor for the third time on Saturday night, from 6.30pm on BBC One.