Strictly Come Dancing pro Kai Widdrington has broken his silence after Angela Rippon's exit from the dancing competition.

The TV presenter was the eighth contestant to be eliminated from the BBC show during Blackpool Week, after facing EastEnders star Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell in the dance-off.

Taking to Instagram, Kai posted a series of photos from his and Angela's time on the series, calling it a "privilege" to dance with the presenter.

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"What an amazing 10 weeks with the legend that is @theangelarippon. We promised we'd be "Rippon" up the dance floor and we did," he began.

tess daly, angela rippon, kai widdrington, strictly come dancing
Guy Levy//BBC

"Thank you to all the people that supported our journey and a huge thanks to Angela – you never complained once despite the injuries, the brutal training regime and the increasingly complex routines.

"It was my pleasure and a privilege to dance with you, you taught us all that age really is just a number," Kai added, ending his post by referencing the upcoming Strictly live shows next year.

"We'll see you all for the live shows in January and I promise, we might be out but we'll still keeeeeeeep dancing."

Angela's time on the dancing competition saw her end up in the dance-off three times, previously dancing for safety against Channel 4 news anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Waterloo Road actor Adam Thomas.

After her exit was announced on Sunday' Strictly Come Dancing results show, Angela revealed what it was like to perform in the Blackpool ballroom over 40 years after presenting Come Dancing.

"Being this side of the competition, this side of the programme, has been really an eye-opener for me in so many different ways," she said.

"There is a real team spirit in this programme unlike anything I've come across anywhere else in any of the many programmes I've done."

Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Tickets for Strictly's 2024 live arena tour are available now.