Strictly Come Dancing’s three finalists have been revealed after Chris Ramsey became the latest celebrity to get the boot.

EastEnders actress Emma Barton, 42,  CBBC star Karim Zeroual, 26, and ex-Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher, 35, will go through to the final.

Comedian Ramsey, 33, and his dance partner Karen Hauer, 37,  were knocked out of the BBC One competition in the semi-final.

They lost their chance of getting their hands on the glitterball following a dance-off with Zeroual and Amy Dowden.

The couples performed in front of judges Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.

Judges opted to save Zeroual, saying he was the “best dancer” and that the pair’s routine was “brilliant”.

Ramsey, who has become a household name since joining the show, said he is “very proud of myself” to have got so far.

“I never ever thought I would make it past week two, genuinely I had no expectations whatsoever,” he said.

“I am astounded and I’ve got to thank Karen – she is just amazing and so patient it’s crazy!

“I had sleepless nights in the build up and there is no-one else who can have made it what it has been.”

Hauer described their experience as a “giggle fest” and said Ramsey, a former co-presenter of I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp, did not know how to walk when he first stepped through the Strictly door.

She told her dance partner, who was emotional on Saturday night’s show: “From week one, not knowing how to walk, and now you are a semi-finalist and you have made all of us proud and have inspired all of us and I want to thank you for being awesome.”

Both couples performed their choice of routines from Saturday’s show again – Ramsey a Rumba and Zeroual the American Smooth.

Ramsey said in a post on Twitter that his Strictly journey had been “absolutely epic”, and also congratulated the three finalists.

Strictly professional Hauer said that the couple had done “what people thought impossible”.

View this post on Instagram

@iamchrisramsey Semi-Finalist on Strictly Come Dancing. . Oh Friend! We did what people thought impossible. An absolute novice who took 6 months to learn his wedding day dance to a man who danced 13 dances in front of millions and created atmosphere & character through it all. . How did you get there? . I’ll tell you how. You were your absolute self the whole way through this experience. You never tried to be anything other than who you are & what a fantastic trait to show the Strictly audience. . You turned up to every rehearsal with a smile on your face, even when you hated your dance, you still smiled & worked your hardest to improve & left the studio with an even bigger smile because you knew you were heading home to the love of your gorgeous family. . Thank you for always being a gentleman & burping in the corners of the rehearsal room, for making me laugh, for bringing the audience joy when they watched you perform, for blah blah blah lovey lovey other stuff, best friend for life etc. . I don’t mind if you don’t keep dancing, but before you hang up those shoes, you better give @rosemarinoramsey that one dance she’s owed, now that you can do it properly. . K 🌻🐻 Ps. You better get up the loft ASAP. . @bbcstrictly #strictlycomedancing #strictly #sma

A post shared by Karen Hauer (@karenhauer) on

In a long message on social media, she wrote: “Oh Friend! We did what people thought impossible. An absolute novice who took 6 months to learn his wedding day dance to a man who danced 13 dances in front of millions and created atmosphere & character through it all. How did you get there? I’ll tell you how.

“You were your absolute self the whole way through this experience. You never tried to be anything other than who you are & what a fantastic trait to show the Strictly audience”.

She ended her long post writing: “I don’t mind if you don’t keep dancing, but before you hang up those shoes, you better give Rosie that one she’s owed, now you can do it properly. Kx”.

The remaining three couples will take to the dancefloor for the Strictly Come Dancing grand final on December 14 on BBC One.