Kate Garraway hit back at Strictly Come Dancing star Gabby Logan after she said she was booted off the show because she lacked the populist' fan base of the TV host.

Kate, 39, told The Sun: "You have to realise it's a pantomime. Some people don't.

"I've worked hard and hope I'm getting better. I know I'm not a natural."

Sports presenter Gabby, who was 4/1 favourite to win the BBC competition, was dismissed from the competition after a dance-off on Saturday.

She exited the competition despite Kate's poor performance.

Gabby said: "I knew I would always struggle for votes as I don't do a show on telly where you have populist support."

She added: "Kate came over to me after the votes were in and looked slightly embarrassed."

But Kate said: "People spend their hard-earned cash voting to keep people in so they should get what they want. They are the viewers and it's important to them.

"I don't know why people vote the way they do. You're in your own little world trying to dance."

Gabby's husband Kenny, a former rugby player and TV pundit, remains in the competition despite being told he has "the grace of a vacuum cleaner".

The couple, who have twins, live in Barnes.

Gabby is the daughter of former Wales international footballer and manager Terry Yorath.