Strictly Come Dancing 2021: Greg Wise is the third celebrity to be eliminated from show after facing Judi Love in the dance off

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Greg Wise was the third celebrity contestant to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing during Sunday night's episode.

Actor Greg, 55, and his partner Karen Hauer, 39, landed in the dance-off against comedian Judi Love, 41, and Graziano Di Prima, 27, who faced their second week dancing to stay in the competition.

But Greg's samba to Macarena by Los Del Rio was not enough to keep him in the show, with judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all opting to save Judi.

End of the road: Greg Wise, 55, was the third celebrity contestant to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing his partner Karen Hauer, 39, during Sunday night's episode

Head judge Shirley Ballas said she would have voted to save Greg and Karen.

She said: 'Well I counted all the mistakes and from what I saw I would have saved Greg and Karen.'

Anton added: 'I felt that the nerves got to both of the couples in the dance-off, which is not surprising really, and they both made quite a lot of mistakes, but one couple maintained an element of composure through the dance, and that would be Judi and Graziano.'

Battling it out: Actor Greg and Karen landed in the dance-off against comedian Judi Love, 41, and Graziano Di Prima, 27 (pictured)

Greg, who is best known for his roles in Sense And Sensibility, Johnny English, Cranford and The Crown, is married to actress Dame Emma Thompson, 62, who was in the Strictly audience previously to watch him dance.

After learning of his elimination, Greg told show host Tess Daly: 'I have had an amazing time, I feel unbelievably privileged and thank you all for having me.'

Karen added: 'It has been a blast, thank you for the amazing lunches, thanks for the quality of work, and for being an amazing student. I have enjoyed our moments in the classroom, and just having fun with you, I've really enjoyed it.'

Bowing out: After learning of his elimination, Greg told show host Tess Daly: 'I have had an amazing time, I feel unbelievably privileged and thank you all for having me'

Thankful: Karen added: 'It has been a blast, thank you for the amazing lunches, thanks for the quality of work, and for being an amazing student'

During Saturday night's show, judge Craig gave Greg and Karen a score of three for their routine, which saw the actor make a mistake as it got under way.

Craig said: 'It did look like you'd just come out of a double hip replacement operation, very clunky, and especially through the hip circles, technically really quite bad actually... I loved the shirt, I loved the smile.'

Shirley said after Saturday's performance that Greg was 'so entertaining' to watch, but added: 'It wasn't a little mistake in the beginning.'

Unimpressed: Greg's performed the samba to Macarena by Los Del Rio on Saturday night but he failed to impress three judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke

Anxious: There was tension in the studio as the two couples waited for the judges scores 

She told Greg that as it was week four of the competition, 'we have to have no mistakes... (it was) not your best dance for me today'.

Speaking to host Claudia Winkleman on Saturday night before the scores were delivered, Greg said nerves had got the better of him.

'I got the fear,' he explained.

The show must go on: Judi and Graziano will remain in the competition for another week after winning over the judges

Their total on Saturday night of 19 put them at the bottom of the leaderboard, with Dragons' Den star Sara Davies dancing her way to the top after an impressive tango with Strictly professional Aljaz Skorjanec.

When he was unveiled as a contestant this year, Greg said he had agreed to do the show in honour of his sister Clare, who died five years ago, and who was a massive fan of the BBC ballroom dance contest.

Rugby player Ugo Monye and his partner Oti Mabuse were absent from the dancefloor this week as the sports star is resting a back injury.

Comedian Robert Webb, who had open heart surgery two years ago, voluntarily withdrew from the series due to ill health, saying he was advised by a doctor to quit the show after he had 'begun to feel symptoms' while training.

The remaining couples will dance again next Saturday when Strictly returns on BBC One at 7.05pm, with the results show airing on Sunday at 7.10pm.

Star power: Head judge Shirley Ballas (second from right) said she would have voted to save Greg and Karen but Greg failed to win votes from the other three judges