Strictly Come Dancing star Ashley Roberts said it was a shock to have been in the dance-off on Sunday night’s results show.
The ex-Pussycat Doll, 37, found herself in the dance-off with professional partner Pasha Kovalev against former cricketer Graeme Swann and his partner Oti Mabuse.
All four judges chose to save Roberts, who performed the samba on Saturday night, with Craig Revel Horwood calling the decision “a no-brainer”.
Read more: Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice and Ashley Roberts ‘kiss’ after her near-miss
On Tuesday, Roberts told spin-off show It Takes Two: “It was a shock, but you just never know. I mean that’s the name of the game and no-one is safe, it’s a fierce competition.
“When it went red I just looked at P and went, alright buddy, lets do this.”
Pasha said told presenter Zoe Ball: “I’ll tell you that in every series I’ve been in, personally I never escaped the dance-off.
“It was coming and I think it’s a good week to get out there and shake it off and keep going, hopefully.”
Zoe asked if the judges’ choice to save Roberts “softened the blow” of going against Graeme on Sunday night.
Ashley said: “We’re very appreciative that the judges all chose us, but going against your friends, we’re a Strictly family, you don’t wanna do that, you don’t wanna be in a dance-off.
“It is a part of the show and we just went out there and tried to give it our all and put our hearts out there.”
Looking ahead to Saturday night’s musicals-themed show, Ashley said the pair would be performing their “own version” of Don’t Rain On My Parade by Barbara Streisand.
Talking about their quickstep routine, she said there was “a lot to learn”.
After being saved by the judges on Sunday night, Ashley took to Twitter to express her gratitude.
She wrote: “It is a fierce competition. I just want to say how GRATEFUL I am to be able to make it through to next week!
“I will go in the studio this week and work extra hard! I have learned so much by being a part of the @bbcstrictly family and am beyond thankful to continue on. Thank YOU.”
Meanwhile, earlier this week, Graeme hit back at reports he took a ‘swipe’ at Ashley during the dance-off.
Graeme said during the show as he made his departure: “Secretly I’ve had 25 years of ballroom experience but I kept that to myself! No, I was a novice coming into this.”
Please don’t believe any of the tiresome headlines about me having a ‘swipe’ at @ImAshleyRoberts or @bbcstrictly. I love everything about the show and everyone on it, my glorious adventure came to a natural happy ending and I have no bitterness in any way shape or form.
— Graeme Swann (@Swannyg66) 27 November 2018
Read more: Strictly’s Ashley Roberts worried over ‘public backlash’
His comment was interpreted by many Strictly fans to have been a dig at Ashley due to her previous years of dance experience.
Graeme tweeted on Tuesday: “Please don’t believe any of the tiresome headlines about me having a ‘swipe’ at @ImAshleyRoberts or @bbcstrictly.
“I love everything about the show and everyone on it, my glorious adventure came to a natural happy ending and I have no bitterness in any way shape or form.”
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