Last dance for former soap star Sid (From Knutsford Guardian)

Last dance for former soap star Sid

8:15pm Sunday 28th October 2012 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Sid Owen suffered a Halloween nightmare as he became the third celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing.

After a public telephone vote, the former EastEnders actor, with his professional partner Ola Jordan, lost a dance-off with fellow screen star Colin Salmon and his partner Kristina Rihanoff.

Sid was left languishing at the bottom of the leaderboard following Saturday night's Halloween-themed show, before the judges' scores were combined with the viewers' votes to decide the two couples to face the boot.

Both duos performed their routines again, with Sid and Ola dancing the cha cha to the Ghostbusters theme song, while Colin and Kristina performed the salsa to Stevie Wonder's Superstition.

Three of the four judges voted to save James Bond star Colin, meaning Sid became the next celebrity to depart the competition.

Judge Craig Revel Horwood said: "This couple were dynamic and simply better dancers - and that couple is Colin and Kristina."

Darcey Bussell said: "Well they both were so much better than the performances yesterday, although the nerves hit them really hard, but I am going to have to save Colin and Kristina." Bruno Tonioli said: "I think overall the strongest couple were Colin and Kristina."

Sid, 40, endured a difficult week on the BBC One show after his dance partner Ola was forced to miss rehearsals to visit her ill mother in her native Poland.

But the soap star received little sympathy from Craig on Saturday's show, who described his performance as a "Halloween nightmare".

Reflecting on his Strictly exit, Sid said: "I have loved every minute of it, thanks to Ola, she is a hard taskmaster but she has been great and we have had so much fun. And now I can even feel comfortable going out and maybe having a little dance."