Former 'Eastenders' star Sid Owen suffered a Halloween nightmare tonight as he became the third celebrity to leave 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
After a public telephone vote, the actor, with his professional partner Ola Jordan, lost a dance-off with fellow screen star Colin Salmon and his partner Kristina Rihanoff.
Owen 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.
Ola Jordan and Sid Owen
Both duos performed their routines again, with Owen and Jordan dancing the cha cha to the 'Ghostbusters' theme song, while Salmon and Rihanoff performed the salsa to Stevie Wonder's Superstition.
Three of the four judges voted to save James Bond star Salmon, meaning Owen 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."
Strictly's stars say goodbye to Sid
Darcey Bussell: "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."
Owen, 40, endured a difficult week on the BBC1 show after his dance partner Jordan was forced to miss rehearsals to visit her ill mother in her native Poland.
But the soap star received little sympathy from Revel Horwood on Saturday's show who described his performance as a "Halloween nightmare".
Reflecting on his 'Strictly' exit, Owen 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."
Tonight's edition also featured a performance by the professional dancers to Britney Spears' hit 'Toxic' while Paloma Faith performed her new single 'Never Tear Us Apart'.
