Proof that you are never safe in the cruel world of reality TV, Maria Menounos waved goodbye to her hopes of victory on Dancing With the Stars, despite receiving a perfect score from the judges. She leaves Katherine Jenkins, Donald Driver and William Levy battling for the crown. Menounos was gracious in defeat, stressing that she was grateful for the positive experience that she has gained on the show. "I learned so many things - I learned how strong I was, I learned to persevere," she said, after she received the news that she would be forced to hang up her dancing shoes.

Katherine Jenkins, on the other hand, must be breathing a huge sigh of relief. She began the show as a relative unknown in the USA. It was unclear how long she'd remain in the contest, as it was assumed that she would have to work twice as hard as those celebrities with a bigger profile, to secure the public vote. Her popularity has snowballed, but even so, she was lucky that she got a free pass to the final, after fluffing her salsa.

Her partner, Mark Ballas insists that the routine had been perfect in practice and he was hoping for a perfect score to match Maria's. It wasn't to be, though, as she tripped, injuring her back. Carrie Ann, on the judging panel, tried to reassure her, saying "That was fantastic. I love seeing you push your boundaries.so bummed about the end, but you carried on." With Maria Menounos out of the way, the field is wide open now, for the final. Only time will tell whether Jenkins' newfound American fan base vote her as champion over the NFL star Donald Driver and the Cuban hunk William Levy.