An emotional Laura Whitmore becomes the seventh celebrity to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing... after fighting back tears during awkward samba stumble

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The nation watched as Laura Whitmore fought back tears after stumbling through her samba routine on Saturday night's episode of Strictly Come Dancing.

And her misstep proved to be costly, as she became the seventh contestant to be voted off the BBC One show on Sunday, after judges voted unanimously to send her home, following a bottom two dance-off against Ore Oduba.

As she learned of her fate, an emotional Laura told co-host Tess Daly of her time on the show: 'I don’t think anyone realises how much goes on here, the make-up, the costume, everything and just to be part of that for a little while is amazing.'

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Out: Laura Whitmore (centre) and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice were voted off Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night. They are seen with co-host Tess Daly

Her professional dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, told the Irish TV personality: 'I would like to say again thank you for being such a great partner, an amazing person to work with, you teach me a lot and I will never ever forget this journey.'

The blonde beauty and Giovanni were named in the bottom two alongside Ore and his professional dance partner Joanne Clifton. 

While Laura and Giovanni did their best to impress as they danced away to Bamboleo by Gipsy Kings, Ore and Joanne's salsa to Vicki Sue Robinson's Turn The Beat Around proved to be more impressive. 

Dance off: After finding themselves in the bottom two, Laura and Giovanni danced off against Ore Oduba and Joanne Clifton in a bid to save their spot

Spicy salsa! Ore and Joanne wowed as they put on a repeat performance of their salsa

Funky classic: The athletic pair danced to Vicki Sue Robinson's Turn The Beat Around

Consistent favorite: Ore has proved to be a firm favourite on the show this season

Flying high: He showed off his agility as he lifted his dance partner in the air mid-routine

Taking a dip: The pair danced energetically as they fought to keep their place on the show

First time at the bottom: The dance-off marked the first time that Ore was in the bottom two

Keep doing what you do: Joanne assured Ore that he'd been the perfect dance partner

In explaining his decision to pick sports presenter Ore as the one to save, Craig Revel Horwood said: 'One couple danced the best I’ve ever seen them dance and I think was probably their personal best; but for me, the dance of the night and who I would like to save was Ore and Joanne.'

Echoing his sentiment, fellow judge Darcey Bussell said: 'I think both couples danced exceptionally well tonight and it makes it very difficult.

'But I’d like to save the couple that I believe and know performed their best, a finished performance, was Ore and Joanne.'

Putting on a brace face: She smiled at Giovanni as she performed a repeat of her samba

Shaking it off: Laura shrugged off her sadness that was visible from the night before

Flesh flash: She also showed off her long, lean legs as she was spun around the dancefloor

The show must go on: Despite being under pressure, the star wore a huge smile on her face

Getting into the groove: She appeared to be in her element as she held Giovanni's arm

Elegant: Laura looked elegant as she glided seamlessly around the glittering ballroom

Added Bruno Tonioli: 'First off, let me say this wasn’t a dance off, it was a dance treat. You both danced with such vibrancy, energy and entertainment value, it’s like splitting hairs here.

'We didn’t put you there, if you didn’t vote, don’t moan. But I have to pick one out of the two that in a way outshone everyone else, and that couple was Ore and Joanne.'

Head Judge Len Goodman said he agreed with his colleagues and that he would have also saved Ore and Joanne.  

The night before, Laura was seen squinting her eyes and sighing 'sorry' to her partner, as she looked crestfallen while to the judges' comments. 

The moment of truth: Both pairs of dancers waited nervously as the judges gave their verdicts

Smiling through it: Laura smiled reservedly as she received a kiss on the cheek from Giovanni

Hard work: Laura said that she found the experience of competing on the show 'amazing'

Farewell: She hugged her competitors, after judges voted unanimously to send her home

Let's hug it out: It was mixed emotions as one pair got good news and the other bad news

One for the road: Laura received hugs from the other stars as she said her goodbyes

And yet it initially appeared that she had no need to be worried about going home, as her passionate performance earned her a respectable 32 points from the judges.

Attempting to console her, Len Goodman exclaimed: 'She is a star,' but added: 'I'd have liked [to see] a little more Laura than Giovanni!'

He also disagreed with the pace in music as he explained: 'You sacrificed technique to give us impact.'

Bruno Tonioli was full of praise, as he shouted: 'It really sizzled, you gave everything, got everyone going.'

Strictly emotional: On Saturday night's episode, Laura allowed the audience to see a softer side of her as she struggled to fight back tears after an awkward timing issue during her samba

Fancy footwork: The starlet initially appeared to have no need to be worried, as her passionate performance earned her a respectable 32 points from the judges

Onwards and upwards: Whilst the judges comments were positive and praised her hip action and 'star quality'  Laura still seemed upset

Fantastic four: The judges (L-R) Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli were full of praise for the performances on the night 

Meanwhile, Craig Revel Horwood admitted: 'It looked a bit awkward but I thought you did a very good job.'

Darcey Bussell sympathised, sighing: 'It's a shame you lost sync,' but praised her as she explained: 'You worked those hips!' 

Whilst the comments were positive, Laura still seemed upset as she explained to Claudia Winkleman: 'Sorry, I feel really bad that I messed that bit up.'

Great work: Danny Mac impressed with his first 10 of the series scoring an impressive 38 with his jive to Long Tall Sally by Little Richard

Down he goes! Danny impressed by dropping into the splits twice during his routine 

Quickstepping: The pair were perfectly in sync throughout the performance 

Elsewhere in the show, Danny Mac impressed with his first 10 of the series scoring an impressive 38 with his jive to Long Tall Sally by Little Richard. 

Following on from his disastrous performance last week, Len remarked: 'Danny Mac, you're back!' Adding: 'That was fast foot Danny!'  

Daisy Lowe and Aljaz scored an impressive 34 with their Viennese Waltz to Daisy Bell, with Bruno remarking: 'You was floating around like a weightless petal caught in a soft breeze.'

Impressive: Daisy Lowe and Aljaz scored an impressive 34 with their Viennese Waltz to Daisy Bell

Angelic: Bruno described their dance as: 'You was floating around like a weightless petal caught in a soft breeze'

Cheeky! Ore and Joanne performed the Salsa to Turn The Beat Around, with Len hilariously remarking: 'I had a blimming good look at your bum!'

Shake it! The star impressed with his hip shaking action 

Ore and Joanne performed the Salsa to Turn The Beat Around, with Len hilariously remarking: 'I had a blimming good look at your bum!' following the energetic hip shaking dance. 

Another surprise came in the form of Ed Balls and Katya Jones, who danced a fantastic Quickstep to Help! by The Beatles.

In a shock move, Craig confessed: 'I can't believe I'm actually saying this - you are actually improving and that's brilliant to see.'

'You're actually improving!' Another surprise came in the form of Ed Balls and Katya Jones, who performed a fantastic Quickstep to Help! by The Beatles and earned praise from Craig

Feel good fun: Another act who is famous for polarising the judges united them this week, as Judge Rinder wowed with his Quickstep

Overboard: Whilst his footwork may have impressed, his signature sassiness proved to be a bit too much for even the flamboyant Bruno to handle

Another act who is famous for polarising the judges united them this week, as Judge Rinder wowed with his Quickstep. 

However, whilst his footwork may have impressed, his signature sassiness proved to be a bit too much for even the flamboyant Bruno to handle, as he scoffed: 'You don't need that trout pout!' 

Yet Len was impressed, remarking: 'I was expecting Fred and Cringe, but I definitely got Fred and Ginge!'

Fantastic: All judges were in agreement, however, with the skill displayed by Louise Redknapp and and Kevin Clifton as they wowed with the first Argentine Tango on the series

Top score: Louise also bagged herself some tens on the night 

Stylish but not a showstopper: Greg Rutherford and Natalie Lowe attempted to catch up, but couldn't rival Louise with a score of just 32 for their Viennese Waltz

All judges were in agreement, however, with the skill displayed by Louise Redknapp and and Kevin Clifton as they wowed with the first Argentine Tango on the series. 

Whilst Craig may have scored nine to the audience's chagrin, the pair's impressive moves received a set of straight 10's from the other judges, rounding up their score to 39 and ensuring they topped the leaderboard. 

Greg Rutherford and Natalie Lowe attempted to catch up, but couldn't rival Louise with a score of just 32 for their Viennese Waltz.

Claudia Fragapane and AJ Pritchard finished off the show with a passionate Paso Doble that earned them a respectable 33 points. 

Passionate in pink: Claudia Fragapane and AJ Pritchard finished off the show with a passionate Paso Doble that earned them a respectable 33 points