Chris Ramsey waltzes into the next round of Strictly Come Dancing as Michelle Visage exits the show

Karen Hauer and Chris Ramsey have made it through to the next round of Strictly Come Dancing, despite being placed in the judges' bottom two

Chris and pro partner Karen Hauer were placed in the bottom two by the judges on Saturday night’s show – but spared the dreaded dance-off after the public vote.

Instead, Michelle Visage and partner Giovanni Pernice were the latest couple to get the push, losing out to AJ Pritchard and Saffron Barker.

Giovanni Pernice admitted he had argued with his partner, but hailed the RuPaul's Drag Race star as an inspiration.

Saying she was competing for "the entire community", Visage performed her voguing routine again with partner Pernice, but it was not enough for a reluctant judging panel to save the couple.

All of the judges decided to save Barker and Pritchard, but admitted they were torn by the choice of parings.

Speaking on her exit, Visage said: "This whole experience has been amazing.

"At 51 years old and never danced in my life, I never thought I'd be able to do what I have done and to have such an incredible partner.

"To be here for my husband and my kids and the entire community, that's why I did what I did.

"I am so honoured to be welcomed by my new friends here."

Pernice admitted that the couple had been through a range of emotions during their time together, but said he has respect for his partner despite their arguments.

He said: "We laugh, we cry, we fight and we argue and we've done everything but I've loved every single second. I think you are inspirational."

Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse, as well as Amy Dowden and Karim Zeroual, dominated the Strictly live show and earned near-perfect scores.

The final decision was a difficult one for the judges, with the experts torn on who to send home.

Craig Revel Horwood said: "I'm having a really difficult time with myself over this. This doesn't normally happen to me. I normally make a very quick, instant decision. This has been really, really difficult."

He, and the other judges, decided to save Pritchard and Barker.

Strictly returns next Saturday at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer.