Huddersfield star Zoe Lucker out of Strictly Come Dancing

Nov 2 2009 By Neil Atkinson

HUDDERSFIELD actress Zoe Lucker is surprisingly out of the hit programme Strictly Come Dancing.

Footballers’ Wives star Zoe was sent packing after viewers forced the Strictly judges to make a difficult choice between two of their favourite couples.

Zoe was fifth on the judges’ scoreboard but was sent into the dance-off with third-placed Ali Bastian when viewers’ votes were added.

It was a major shock as both couples have been among the favourites so far.

Head judge Len Goodman was left with the deciding vote and said: "I know the viewers can do what they like and it’s a popularity contest but this is ludicrous. It’s nonsensical.

"There’s five couples that are worse than these."

Goodman had earlier told Zoe – who scored 32 for her lively samba – that she had the potential to challenge the show’s leading couples if she could contain her nerves.

Bruno Tonioli gave his vote to Bastian and her partner Brian Fortuna but said neither couple should have been fighting to stay in the contest.

"It’s ridiculous. Whoever we save it’s not fair on the other person," he said.

Craig Revel Horwood also voted to save The Bill actress – who scored 33 for the paso doble – but branded it a "heinous dilemma".

Alesha Dixon threw her head in her hands before giving her vote to Zoe and her partner James Jordan.

Former Lindley girl Zoe, who joined the cast of prison drama Bad Girls when her Footballers’ Wives character Tanya Turner was sent to jail, continued to smile despite her disappointment.

"I have had an amazing time," she said. "I have loved being here."

The series marked a return to TV for Zoe, who has been looking after her 15-month-old daughter, Lily, full-time before it started.