Melvin Odoom 'really sad' at Strictly Come Dancing exit

Melvin Odoom has told of his disappointment after he was eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing without the opportunity to perform to keep his place.

The presenter had been set to face singer Anastacia in the dance-off after they ended up in the bottom two, and said he wanted to perform as if it was "the last dance ever".

But when breast cancer survivor Anastacia had to pull out due to a tear to scar tissue from her double mastectomy, Odoom and his professional partner Janette Manrara became the first pair to leave the show as Strictly rules say the couple with the fewest viewer votes get their marching orders.

Speaking on BBC Two spin-off show It Takes Two, Odoom told host Zoe Ball: "Do you know what, it was so funny, because when we found out we were in the bottom two, Janette was like, 'Right Melvin, start stretching, we're going on soon'."

He added: "We wanted to go out there and just dance like it was the last dance ever in life.

"So yeah, but we can still do it."

It is the first time the dance-off has been called off during the opening rounds and some fans on Twitter were unimpressed with the rule that saw Odoom eliminated.

He admitted he felt emotional after getting the boot so early in the competition.

He said: "I feel better today. It was a really sad day over the weekend.

"We just didn't want to leave and so soon as well... we knew what we were doing for this week so it's really sad to be in this position right now."

But Odoom - who performed a Tango to Movin' On Up by M People on Saturday's show - said he was proud of what he achieved during his brief turn on the dancefloor.

He said: "It was a really tough week but getting the routine down on the day was such an accomplishment, for me especially.

"We got there and we just did it on the night so I was really really proud of myself."

After being told he was leaving on Sunday, Odoom spoke about how much he loved the experience and said Anastacia was "a great woman" and that her health was more important than anything else.

He also told Ball: "I have loved it. Although it was brief, everyone has been amazing so I couldn't ask for more really."

Asked by Ball whether his dancing days were over, he quipped: "You can catch me dancing in the clubs, Zoe."