I have to admit I couldn't abide him before this, but...but... OK, he's grown on me. It's hard not to warm to someone who so evidently loved the whole thing, didn't say a word out of place, and of whom Flavia was obviously so fond.
*curses*

Still, I'm glad he's gone - it's getting a bit more serious now.

I loved the partnership between Russell and Flavia. I was another of those whose first reaction was 'oh blimey, poor Flavia, she's been completely stitched up' when I saw the line up - and then realised, as the weeks went on, that she'd actually been offered something very special

Well done to Russell and Flavia, you were amazing, loved the enthusiasm, the joy and the sheer entertainment Now go and have a well earned rest!

agree with most of the above,but who will now end lens len's i have a sneaky feeling there may be a tour for him coming up

I must admit that I always imagined Russel to be a bit of a diva, although I had no grounds for thinking so, but what a lovely, warm and genuine man.
I'll really miss him in the Strictly line up xxx

I thoroughly enjoyed Russell's time in SCD, mainly because he was genuinely having such a wonderful time. He was a pleasure to watch, he was never going to get to the final few weeks but he put so much effort in each week you somehow hoped he would keep progressing. He comes across as a really lovely person and it was clear to see last night just how much everyone else liked him.

Well done Russell and Flavia. Thanks as well for this thread, I haven't been posting much this year (lurking a lot) but had to contribute to this thread.

What a genuinely lovely man! He and Flavia seemed to be having such fun - it was infectious.
Hopefully we'll see more of him on TV.

My feelings exactly. I was glad last night that he was voted off, it was time for him to go but this morning I'm sad about it.

I have a feeling, with the dancers we have left, it will be a little d-u-l-l without him.

Russell did bring something special to the show. He tried really hard and was so enthusiastic. I am sad he has gone out of the competition.
He was so entertaining and had good rhythm. The rocket stunt was a bit daft and some of the other gimmicks in his routines but maybe that was not Russell's choice.
The show has lost it's best sparkle.

Russell you brightened up many a winter's evening. Thank you so much bach

It was a joy to watch him and Flavia every week! He was so cute with the teddy bear.

I too felt it was his time to go, as he was now up against the really good dancers, and this is when people might have turned against him. I would have hated that.

Thank you so much Russell and Flavia! You were such fun! Glad you went out with a 'bang' tee hee.

Yes -- he has brightened up our Saturday evenings.
And yes, it was time to go -- and perhaps he realised this.

Thank you, Russell for sharing your joy, enthusiasm and sense of fun
I did get a bit at some of the gimmicks, but I am really going to miss him. Wasnt it wonderful to see Flavia having such a brilliant time too?

Russell surely knew how to make a gracious departure! Look & learn Strictly peeps!

Flavia and Russell obviously did get on really well and both had a good laugh doing the show.

The big surprise to me was that Russell had dance talent and if he had been younger and fitter, he could have been an impressive dancer.

Flavia turned what I expected to be a chore for her into some great entertainment and I especially loved their first dance.

Wembley was a good point at which to leave though, so I think that was for the best.

Russell leaves with more fans than when he started, I think.

Such a nice man - I'll miss him ( if not his "dancing") What a charming exit speech he gave

You have said all that I wanted to, agree totally Bud

He embodied the joy of dance and it was a revelation, well done Russell.

Thank you Russell for being a great 'contestant' on SCD- your joy and enthusiasm leapt out of the screen

Thank you Flavia for being such a great partner

Thank you both for the enjoyment you gave many viewers

I hope they do, because Russell gave them a masterclass! I watched the last half of the Sunday show on the iPlayer today, when they said he was leaving he gave Flavia a big hug and said 'thank you'. He's obviously very popular with the staff of the programme and the celebs too - what a lovely bloke.

I think that Russell went at the right time and this was befitting of him.

He hadn't seen any of the dancers people generally rate as good be dismissed before him because of his popularity.

Overall, he went with great dignity - and it was lovely to hear him give such great credit to Flavia, particularly after Lulu's exit (and to a slightly lesser extent Audley's) where their professional partner was barely if at all mentioned!

I had never been a fan of Russell's but have enjoyed his appearances on SCD and having seen in the show and ITT, I've come to like him as a person too!

I'm sure we'll see more of him as part of the SCD family over the following years, maybe on the tour, surely on ITT.

I felt that it was fitting that Russell left this weekend and that as he did so he left us with only positive memories!

Thought I'd pass this along as I think Russell may be referring to this thread in his tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/THERussellGran...83915569053697

Yes I think he might have been..

Lovely interview on BBC Breakfast this morning. Not rushed and given time to talk. Russell and Flavia seemed so happy together.

Well done Russell and Flavia!

(It's very refreshing to see a thread without a single negative comment on it - reflects Russell's own attitude to the show.)

My mum who usually hates 'fun' contestants loved his salsa and Flavia appears to have enjoyed herself this year as much as he did. I too felt sorry for her when she first got him (and even when he was announced as a contestant as I knew she'd get him) but my pity for her had gone by week two.

The joke was starting to wear a bit thin and the content in his routinues was being overtaken by the gimmicks but we had a couple of geunine rountinues like his salsa and foxtrot that were entertaining because of the dancing which puts him above a lot of 'fun' contestants.

His attitude was also lovely and I expect that a lot of his fellow contestants will miss him on Saturday especially Robbie.

People say this year is rubbish but to be honest a lot of contestants seem to be getting a lot out of it this year - to me Audley and Russel who may not have been the best but enjoyed themselves, behaved like gentlemen and learnt to dance a bit are what the show is all about. After all not everyone can be a Chelsee but we could all be a Russell.

I was never much of a fan of his before SCD, what with all that astrological nonsense, but he came across as very likable and decent chap, and I hope we see more of him on TV soon.

To all those who criticised Russell's manly credentials - he might have been camper than a row of tents, but he's more of a gentleman in his little finger than just about any contestant on SCD has ever been.

I can't think of more than a handful of celebs who have thanked their partner so graciously in front of the cameras, nor who have taken their departure with such grace and equanimity.

Russell Grant - new star of daytime telly