Stephanie, Gian Luca next out of 'SYTYCD'

[dutchman]

Stephanie Powell and Gian Luca Loddo have become the next two contestants to leave So You Think You Can Dance.



The young hopefuls, who were paired up after surviving last week's dance-off, failed to win viewer votes with their kinetic cha cha and ended up in the bottom two alongside the partnership of Rithy Pereira and Shane Collard.

After splitting up for a four-way solo showdown, head judge Nigel Lythgoe stepped forward to reveal which man and woman the panel had decided to send home.

Explaining that himself, Arlene Phillips, Louise Redknapp and Sisco Gomez had let production pick the female eliminee after failing to agree on a decision, he stated: "Obviously, Stephanie, you didn't connect with the audience last week or this week with your new partner... it's you leaving us tonight."

Lythgoe then revealed that the panel had turned in a unanimous vote between Loddo and Collard, before clarifying: "We don't believe that either of you guys deserve to be in the bottom two."

He continued: "Gian Luca, for some reason you did not connect with the public, I don't know why but you haven't for two weeks running."

He then confirmed Loddo's fate by turning to Collard and declaring: "We truly believed that you were the only one of the four dancers this evening that really came with fire in your belly and showed what dancing for your life means."

Speaking to host Cat Deeley after the result, Loddo claimed to have "really, really loved all the experience", and Powell stated that her time on the show had been "absolutely wonderful".

The eliminated pair then received a few parting words of encouragement from Lythgoe, who asserted that they would have successful careers once they learnt to "make that connection with the audience".

So You Think You Can Dance returns next Saturday at 7pm on BBC One.