ANDOVER’S Katie Piper showed off her new found confidence during week two of the Strictly Come Dancing live shows.

The television presenter, author and acid attack survivor was anxious after her performance of the waltz last week saw her and partner Gorka Marquez scored towards the bottom of the leaderboard.

Katie was determined to overcome her dancing nerves during a spicy performance of the paso doble to Confident by Demi Lovato.

Before the performance, Katie said: “The most challenge part of the paso doble is the coordination. I’m trying to do these moves and I’m trying to coordinate the skirt moving in the opposite direction.

“I want to change this side of me, I want to be more confident. I used to be when I was younger, so I want to get that back.

“Of course I don't want to be the person to go home yet.”

Taking to the Strictly dance floor in a Spanish-inspired number, Katie seemed to battle her way through her nerves.

The judges however were critical of the performance.

Judge Craig Revel Horwood branded her performance "very stompy" and "very plankish", while Shirley Ballas said: "You have channelled your inner strength and you looked like it was going to go well and then you go on the wrong foot pretty much straight away."

Katie was visibly upset when she was scored just two by Revel Horwood, three by Ballas and four by Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli, for a combined total of 13.

Presenter Claudia Winkleman tried to console Katie as she looked gutted after the judges reactions.

“We thought it was phenomenal. I don't want you to be sad because you swallowed your nerves and you did that," Claudia said. 

The scores were combined with those from week one, seeing Katie and Gorka placed second to last on the board.

During the results show on Sunday, however, the pair were shocked to find out they were the first saved by the public vote.

Katie said: "Thank you thank you thank you. I actually thought they were saying I was going home.

"I’m so thrilled because it's another opportunity to try and get better and go past another barrier and I welcome that opportunity and I just want to keep moving forward so thank you.”

After the show, a relieved Katie took to social media to share her reaction.

In a video to fans, she said: “It’s been a bit of an emotional roller coaster for me, the past few months before joining strictly and now.

“I was really pleased with the dance this week. I was less nervous and anxious, but I think the judges were right, even though I was more confident, I wasn't very good with my technique."

She also tweeted a thank you message to viewers who voted to keep her in for another week, stating that she appreciated "all the love you have shown me".

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC 1 next week at 6.30pm with movie week where the remaining duos are challenged to come up with routines that pay homage to Hollywood's greatest films.