BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty has said she is "absolutely gutted" to be the fourth celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing.
She was voted out of the competition after all four judges chose to save singer Anastacia in Sunday night's dance-off.
Following her disappointing result, she said: "Gutted, absolutely gutted, I never wanted to leave and I've loved it and I'm desperately sad that I'm not going to be dancing with Pasha."
Adding that the best thing about her experience on the show was working with "wonderful" partner, she said: "He's amazing, he's just wonderful and amazing and I'm so grateful for him being so patient and working so hard with me."
Mr Kovalev had equally warm words for his partner and said: "We always had fun and I'm just amazed at how much progress you've made, that's the best thing, that's the most I could ever ask.
"We work hard and you became a beautiful beautiful dancer.
"Thank you for being the best student I've ever had, so determined and so much fun all the time."
The pair danced a colourful charleston in ocean-themed fancy dress to Minnie The Mermaid by Firehouse Five Plus Two, earning a score of 24 from the judges on Saturday night.
The only couple to receive lower marks on the night were Ed Balls and partner Katya Jones with their paso doble to Bonnie's Tyler's Holding Out For A Hero, which received 16 points.
But when the judges were asked to make their decision on the dance-off alone, the scales tipped in favour of Anastacia and Brendan Cole's passionate rumba to The Way We Were by Barbra Streisand.
Professional dancer and judge Darcey Bussell said: "It's always incredibly difficult when it gets to this and very hard but the couple I would like to save because of their performance value and natural artistry is Anastacia and Brendan."
But the journalist, 41, promised she would carry on dancing without the pressure of the competition.
She said: "I love going out to a dance club anyway and having a bit of a dance.
"Maybe Pasha and I can go out dancing now and he wouldn't tell me off for getting moves wrong."
The remaining eleven couples will take to the dancefloor next week when Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, October 22, at 6.35pm.