Lesley Joseph took a light-hearted swipe at Ed Balls as she discussed her Strictly Come Dancing exit, teasing him about his poor attempt at a lift in Saturday’s show.

The Birds OF A Feather actress became the fifth celebrity to be voted off the dancefloor at the weekend, while the former shadow chancellor made it through despite nearly dropping his professional partner Katya Jones during a lift.

Speaking on BBC Two spin-off show It Takes Two, Lesley said: “It’s an entertainment show. You go when you go. That’s it. You can’t weep tears. It is what it is.

“Some people are brilliant dancers, some can’t dance for toffee, some can’t lift for toffee…”

Ed Balls
Ed Balls (BBC)

Lesley, 71, was eliminated during Sunday night’s results show after finding herself in the dance-off with model Daisy Lowe.

The actress and her professional partner Anton Du Beke had scored 24 points from the judges for their Tango to Whatever Lola Wants by Gotan Project, while Daisy and her partner Aljaz Skorjanec were in joint fourth place with 32 points for their Charleston to Happy Feet by Manhattan Rhythm Kings.

Lesley told It Takes Two host Zoe Ball it had been a “lovely” experience although she still had not managed to watch herself dance.

“All I see are the mistakes or the blips or I’m fat or I’m something,” she laughed.

Lesley is still keen to keep her best foot forward for this weekend's Strictly.
Lesley Joseph(Guy Levy/BBC/PA)

The actress said she had loved learning the routines alongside Anton and that she had noticed a difference in her figure.

“I have lost a bit of weight. I’ve firmed up. And all that means is now I’ve got to keep going to dance class to keep the thighs down,” she quipped.

After Lesley insisted that she had to “whip” Anton into shape, he teased: “It was exhausting. I’m glad she is out quite frankly. I can have a rest!”