PENNY LANCASTER - STRICTLY JITTERS BEFORE RESULTS

STRICTLY JITTERS BEFORE RESULTS

Gabby Logan's shock exit from Strictly Come Dancing last week means the show's dancers will be even more on edge than usual.

The sports presenter lost out to Penny Lancaster after the pair, despite having been clearly among the best dancers in the group, received the least number of votes from the public.

The next contestant will leave the show tonight when the unpredictable voting public's choices become clear. The judges will pick from the bottom-placed pair.

After the judges' marks from last night's performances, it is John Barnes and Kenny Logan who should be quaking in their dancing boots the most.

But following last week's result could either of the top two performers, Lancaster and Alesha Dixon, find their efforts unrewarded?

According to an insider quoted by the Sunday Mirror, the pressure has been getting to all the performers in the last seven days.

"This has undoubtedly been the toughest week of the series so far," the source said.

"It was a massive shock - there have been more than just a few nerves jangling since then."

At least the producers of the show will not be worried by the public volatility affecting ratings. According to the BBC Strictly Come Dancing netted 8.7 million viewers last night, compared to The X Factor's 7.8 million.