91Èȱ¬

The Bill actors Lisa Maxwell & Patrick Robinson and sports stars Martin Offiah & Denise Lewis have strutted their stuff straight into next Saturday's final of Let's Dance For Comic Relief, following their showstopping performances in the third and last heat of the series on 91Èȱ¬ One.

Presenters Claudia Winkleman and Steve Jones announced that viewers had chosen Lisa Maxwell & Patrick Robinson as their favourite, the fifth act to win a place in the final on Saturday 14 March after performing a phenomenal homage to Riverdance.

Lisa Maxwell & Patrick Robinson said: "Absolutely stunned, I don't know what to say, thank you everybody for voting for us and spending your money towards Comic Relief. That's brilliant, but blimey!" (Lisa)

Runners-up Martin Offiah & Denise Lewis and Fern Britton then faced the three panellists who decided which act would win the sixth and last place in the final after their performances of Bombay Dreams Shakalaka Baby and Singing In The Rain respectively.

Panellists Dara O'Briain and Lisa Snowdon both voted for Martin Offiah & Denise Lewis who automatically won the last place in the final.

Dara O'Briain: "I have to just go for the one that just really blew me away, I'm going to go for Denise & Martin."

Lisa Snowdon: "It's a horrible place to be I have to say both acts were fantastic, so entertaining, but I'm going to go for my favourite and that was Denise & Martin!"

Head panellist Anton Du Beke said of Lisa & Patrick earlier: "If we had about 25 really terrible songs, it could be the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 all over again, they were equally as brilliant, the hair went up on the back of my neck. It had everything in it, all the trebles, the cuts, the long clicks. Absolutely brilliant what a number!"

Martin Offiah & Denise Lewis said: "Well I've been saying to Denise all week, we're the comedy and glamour couple and I was trying not to make her look bad and I think she managed to make me look not good, but not too bad." (Martin)

"I can't believe it, I can't believe that we're through, our dancers were all so fabulous, I'd like to say a big thank you to all the dancers, I think they made us look pretty good, thank you!" (Denise)

Fern Britton said: "Do you know what? I'm actually rather relieved, delighted to have got this far and thank you everybody who did vote and it was fantastic fun, and they are brilliant and we love them!"

Viewers favourite Lisa Maxwell & Patrick Robinson then closed the show with an encore of their spectacular tribute to Riverdance.

Tonight's show was the third of three heats and saw performances from Zoe Ball & Suggs, Dom Joly, sports stars Martin Offiah & Denise Lewis, The Bill actors Lisa Maxwell & Patrick Robinson, Fern Britton and Angela Rippon.

There were also performances from the cast of Mamma Mia and The Ting Tings.

Next week, the six celebrity finalists Robert Webb (Flashdance, What A Feeling), Dick & Dom (Blues Brothers, Shake A Tail Feather), Keith Lemon & Paddy McGuinness (Dirty Dancing, I've Had The Time Of My Life), Jo Brand (Britney Spears, Baby One More Time), Lisa Maxwell & Patrick Robinson and Martin Offiah & Denise Lewis will take to the floor for their chance to wow the viewers in one almighty dance off.

Only one will be crowned the Let's Dance For Comic Relief Champion on Saturday 14 March on 91Èȱ¬ One during Red Nose Day weekend.

The show is produced by Whizz Kid Entertainment for the 91Èȱ¬.

Notes to Editors

Selected costumes worn by the stars in their performances will be auctioned to raise even more cash for Comic Relief – keep an eye on rednoseday.com/auction for details.

Proceeds from the voting will go to Comic Relief.

Go online at bbc.co.uk/letsdance for backstage footage and interviews.

Red Nose Day 2009 is on Friday 13 March.

Go to bbc.co.uk/rednoseday for more information.

From 9 to 13 March 91Èȱ¬ Red Button will be offering Sky viewers the facility to make a donation to Comic Relief by pressing red on their remote controls (Freeview and Virgin viewers pressing red on the night will be pointed to an alternative donation method). To complete the donation viewers should have their credit/debit cards handy and make sure their set-top box is connected to a telephone line.

91Èȱ¬ audiences have used the Red Button to raise £8.5million for charitable causes since 2001.

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