LINDA LUSARDI - LINDA LUSARDI IS LATEST CONTESTANT TO LEAVE DANCING ON ICE

LINDA LUSARDI IS LATEST CONTESTANT TO LEAVE DANCING ON ICE

Former model Linda Lusardi has become the seventh contestant to be voted off ITV1's Dancing On Ice.

The Emmerdale actress and partner Dan found themselves in the bottom two after their dance to KT Tunstall's Suddenly I See earned them just 19 points.

And despite the fact the ex-Coronation Street star Zaraah Abrahams and partner Fred scored only 18.5 points for their performance, the judges unanimously chose to save Zaraah ahead of Linda following the skate-off.

"I've had a ball I really have. It had to end one night, and it was tonight," Linda said afterwards.

She had earlier blamed some slippery fingers for a failed lift that saw her skate nearly slice off Dan's ear, saying: "Everyone has fallen so much this week, and I just couldn't get hold of your trousers."

Hollyoaks actor Chris Fountain turned in another excellent performance earlier in the show, grabbing a score of 27 points out of 30 for his and partner Frankie's dance to Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers.

"You are so great to watch," said judge Robin Cousins afterwards. "Week after week you deliver and your relationship with Frankie that didn't exist at the beginning is now natural to watch."

But after a stunning dance to Madonna's Music, Suzanne Shaw and partner Matt jumped to the top of the leader board after being awarded 27.5 out of 30, the highest score of the series so far.

Judge Nicky Slater, whose wife Christianne had earlier given birth to their first child, paid tribute to Suzanne and Matt after their dance, adding: "What a day I've had - I've become a father and seen you skate".

He went on: "You captured the beat right the way through that routine. Well done. We are very near a six with us, you keep going and you could win this competition."