HABARI KWANZA

Former Bond girl Fiona Fullerton killed off her chances of winning Strictly Come Dancing by becoming the seventh celebrity to exit the show.

The View To A Kill star said taking part in the BBC1 series was like 'being a guest at the best party in the world'.

She found herself in the bottom two alongside actor Mark Benton, going head-to-head in a dance-off to persuade the judges to let them stay in the competition.

Time to say goodbye: Fiona Fullerton became the latest celebrity to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night

Fullerton, who, like Benton, scored 29 points out of 40, performed her American Smooth to Frank Sinatra's Come Fly With Me with professional partner Anton Du Beke who was dressed as a pilot.

On Saturday night, head judge Len Goodman told her: 'I thought the attitude was first class, the movement was a bit business class and the lift was a little bit economy.'

After both couples danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts with Craig Revel Horwood saving Fullerton and Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli choosing to keep Benton and partner Iveta Lukosuite.

It was then down to Goodman to cast the final decision, describing it as 'very, very close'.

Close call: Fiona and her partner Anton Du Beke were in the bottom two alongside Mark Benton and his partner Iveta Lukosiute

Having a ball: Fiona said she wouldn't change anything about being a part of Strictly

Goodman said: 'The thing is in the dance-off. You've really got to up your game or nerves stifle your performance.

'One couple I felt really did up their game. The other I think nerves got them and there was a lot of mistakes going on, and for that reason I'm going to save Mark.'

Fullerton described her experience as the 'most amazing trip'.

She said: 'I can't thank you enough, or the producers at the BBC, for asking me to take part in this show.

'It's been fantastic, thank you. Anton has been unbelievably patient I can't tell you. I honestly have a memory like a colander. He's been utterly brilliant.'

Dancing queen: On Saturday night, Fiona and Anton performed the American Smooth to Frank Sinatra's Come Fly With Me

Du Beke told her: 'From my perspective this whole fabulous show is made fun because of the people we get to dance with, and you are just a joy. Every day I come in I get to dance with you. You are really lovely.'

On Saturday, former Coronation Street star Natalie Gumede showed she put her back problems behind her to secure the joint top score of the series so far.

The favourite to win was awarded 39 points out of a possible 40 with BBC Breakfast presenter Susanna Reid.

Gumede, who missed last week's show after fainting twice in rehearsals and previously suffered a painful spinal injury, channelled the flapper look as she performed the Charleston in a short, scarlet, sequin dress with professional partner Artem Chigvintsev.

Reid sank to the ground as her scores were read out and she got her first 10 of the competition, swiftly followed by two more.

Dressed in a red, Spanish-style, ruffled gown, she and partner Kevin Clifton, in a matador outfit, performed the paso doble.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor said that week eight of the competition being filmed at Blackpool's Tower Ballroom gave it an 'incredible' atmosphere.

The singer, who was first up on the dancefloor, did the quickstep with Brendan Cole to Shirley Bassey's The Lady Is A Tramp, for which she was awarded 34 points.

Also receiving high praise was former Casualty star Patrick Robinson who scored 35 points for his samba with Anya Garnis and was told by the judges he was one of the best male performers of the dance they have seen on the show.

Model Abbey Clancy, with partner Aljaz Skorjanec, also impressed the judging panel with her quickstep in a flowing silver gown and got her first 10 of the series to score 37 points.

Former Waterloo Road star Benton was told by Bussell that despite his jive lacking finesse, he delivered a 'show-stopping performance'.

Sunday night's results show featured JLS performing their new single Billion Lights.