IF you ever needed proof that we Brits like our icons with a touch of humility witness the booting out of the brilliant Austin Healey from “Strictly Come Dancing.”

The former England rugby player was one of the favourites to win and, right from the first programme, has wowed judges and the public alike.

Austin is good-looking, funny and very athletic with the sportsman’s competitive streak that has already created a couple of “Strictly” winners and, of course, he has a great sense of rhythm as well as a positive approach and strong work ethic.

Unfortunately, also like many successful competitive sportsmen and women, he’s got bags of confidence in his own abilities and was unable to hide it.

The judges preferred the more modest, although gracefully talented, TV presenter Lisa Snowden in the “dance off”, and it’s now between her, singer Rachel Stevenson and actor Tom Chambers.

They are all a bit more low-key than muscleman Austin, and the voting public agreed. While as a nation we love our heroes larger-than-life, we still seem to want them to remain self-deprecating and endearing.

Never mind, Austin, rafts of TV offers are now bound to be on the horizon to assuage that disappointment.