Zim dancer booted out of UK show

HARARE-born former rugby star Thom Evans and his professional dancer partner Iveta Lukosiute were this weekend booted out of the Strictly Come Dancing.

The former professional rugby player and his dance partner hit a brick-wall when they came up against Blue pop star Simon Webbe and his partner Kristina Rihanoff in a dance-off on Sunday's results show.

Evans and Lukosiute performed their cha-cha to Jessie J's It's My Party', which scored 27 on Saturday's show and placed the couple ninth on the leader board of 12 couples, while their opponents reprised their Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen, which received 28 points on Saturday and earned them eighth place.

The judges were split on their decision. Craig Revel Horwood and Darcey Bussell chose to save Evans and Lukosiute, while Bruno Tonioli voted to keep Webbe and Rihanoff, leaving head judge Len Goodman to cast the deciding vote that kept Webbe and Rihano in the show.

However, Evans who is the second Zimbabwean to contest in the show after Natalie Gumede expressed delight at having taken part in the show after many years the country has fielded an artiste in the illustrious contest.