Three couples waltz into Strictly Come Dancing final

Image caption, Scott Maslen (l) and Gavin Henson's efforts did not save them from elimination

The three couples who will contest the Strictly Come Dancing final have been decided after two celebrities lost out in the semi-final.

Rugby star Gavin Henson along with EastEnders actor Scott Maslen picked up the fewest votes from the public.

Pamela Stephenson, the oldest celebrity to ever reach the final, TV host Matt Baker and former EastEnders star Kara Tointon will now battle it out.

The final will see the trio perform four routines with their partners.

Henson, who was rank outsider going into the semi-final and finished bottom of the judges' leaderboard, predicted it would be "one hell of a competitive final".

"Kara's lovely. She should win it. She looks such a natural dancer," he said after exiting the competition.

The bookmakers agree with the Welshman's assessment, installing Tointon as their favourite, followed by Baker and Stephenson.

It was Stephenson, the former comic actress and wife of Billy Connolly, who impressed the judges the most in the semi-final showdown, scoring a maximum 40 points for one of her performances with dance partner James Jordan.

Last weekend she achieved the same perfect score - the first of the series.

The final will be determined entirely by the public vote, which has been combined with the judges' scores in previous weeks.