UK NEWS

KATE FINALLY GETS THE BOOT

Monday November 19,2007

By Tony Bonnici

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SHE amazed everyone, not least herself, by how far she had been able to make it.

But last night TV presenter Kate Garraway’s run on Strictly Come Dancing came crashing to an end.

The GMTV star’s luck finally ran out following a routine described as “mummified” by the judges.

It was the fifth time that Ms Garraway, 39, and dance partner Anton du Beke found themselves bottom of the leader board and needing to be saved by the public vote.

But this time there was to be no reprieve and the pair went on to face ex-England and Liverpool footballer John Barnes in the dance-off. The judges were then unanimous in their decision to vote Kate off the show.

The success of the bubbly blonde – who has happily admitted to having two left feet – had shocked and irritated the judges.

Her efforts were not helped by having to have her back strapped up after injuring herself in training.

But that did not stop the judges from laying into the mum-of-one after another of her terrible performances.

Of Kate’s first dance, the Paso Doble, which is modelled on a Spanish bullfight, judge Arlene Phillips said: “It’s less like a cape, more like a shag carpet. Plonky plonky.”

Judge Bruno Tonioli added: “Tutankhamun in a frock would have done a better job. The footwork was mummified.”

Head judge Len Goodman said: “Like the Perils of Pauline, every week a disaster but she always comes back. I liked the steps but it lacked a bit of fire and drama.”

The judges’ score was just 21 out of 40, which this time spelt the beginning of the end for the pair.

Last night’s decision made Kate the seventh celebrity to be voted off the BBC1 show, which is watched by almost nine million people.