Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe became the ninth dance partnership to be rejected from Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night.
The Ted Lasso actress, 38, and professional dancer, 35, missed out on a spot on next week’s show after taking on Fleur East and Vito Coppola at the dance party.
On Saturday’s show, Ellie found herself at the bottom of the leaderboard after receiving just five out of ten points from judge Craig Revel Horwood.
Goodbye! Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe became the ninth dance partnership to be rejected from Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night
After landing in the bottom two, Ellie portrayed Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl heir Jive in a bid to stay in the competition.
However, the judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke voted unanimously to save Fleur and Vito after performing their Rumba on Too Lost in You by the Sugababes.
After the two couples danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdict.
Craig opted to save Fleur and Vito, explaining, “Based on technique alone, I’d like to save Fleur and Vito.”
She’s out: The Ted Lasso actress, 38, and professional dancer, 35, missed out on a spot on next week’s show after facing off against Fleur East and Vito Coppola in the dance off
Motsi also opted to save the couple and said: “First of all I would like to say that both couples behaved very well, also for me the technical aspect was very important, so I will save Fleur and Vito. “
Anton added, “Well, I would just like to congratulate both couples for going so far in the competition.” Both danced wonderfully. I thought Ellie danced a great performance in your Jive. And Fleur, I thought your technique was strong and your performance was powerful, and I’d like to save Fleur and Vito.
With three votes against Fleur and Vito, that meant they had won the majority vote and would remain in the competition regardless, but head judge Shirley Ballas said she would have decided to save Fleur and Vito as well.
Vote off: However, the judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke voted unanimously to save Fleur and Vito after performing their Rumba at Too Lost
Shirley said: “Both couples danced exceptionally well, but on this occasion, thanks to the technical qualities, I would have saved Fleur and Vito.”
Asked by Tess if she had been everything she expected, Ellie replied: “It has been and it has been, I’m going to be a cliché machine now, but it’s been everything and more. Never in a million years ago I never expected to stay so long and experience it so fully.
“It’s strictly about the dancing, but it’s also about the people, and every part of this show from top to bottom, from the executives to the makeup, from the hair to the costumes, from the sets to the band, to my fellow celebrities and the dancers – even some of the judges were okay!It was an absolute privilege to be a Strictly alumnus and I absolutely loved it.
Ouch! On Saturday’s show, Ellie found herself at the bottom of the leaderboard after receiving just five out of ten points from judge Craig Revel Horwood.
Asked about her special relationship with Johannes, Ellie said: “We had so much fun. And to borrow an antonism, let me tell you about you Johannes Radebe. You [Johannes] you are as wonderful as everyone has said, and I said you are like the human sun and you really really are.
“You see people and you have seen me, every moment. I was so worried and so out of my comfort zone and so embarrassed and so weird and you said “kiss your weird Ellie”. You did it wholeheartedly and without judgment.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to dance with you JoJo, I don’t know what goes through your body but it’s not blood it’s rhythm and it’s music and watching you perform is amazing .”
Dancing their socks off: After landing in the bottom two, Ellie performed Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl heir Jive in a bid to stay in the competition
Sure: Craig opted to save Fleur and Vito, explaining: ‘Based on technique alone, I’d like to save Fleur and Vito’
When asked if he had any words for his partner, Johannes replied: “Oh my God – it’s been a pleasure, a treasure, that’s our thing.” Ellie Taylor, go ahead, embrace your weirdo! Embrace your long limbs, for you are a magnificent person. So thank you for everything, you know my heart, thank you.
The show kicked off with a colorful routine from the pros from Strictly to Lizzo’s 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready) and Tom Grennan performed his hit single with Joel Corry, Lionheart.
During Saturday’s show, comedian Ellie performed an energetic jive with her partner Johannes, but failed to impress the notoriously strict judge Craig, who awarded the dance five points out of ten.
While she managed to sweep the score, joking, “At least it wasn’t a four”, many fans took to social media to share their anger at the harsh score.
‘At least it wasn’t a four!’: On Saturday’s show, comedian Ellie performed an energetic jive with partner Johannes but failed to impress notoriously strict judge Craig
Ellie and Johannes took to the dance floor in matching pink plaid shirts for the fun performance.
But opening the comments afterwards, Craig said: ‘You got off on the wrong foot, it was lackluster I’m afraid.’
Motsi Mabuse told them: “You had a lot of fun with Jive. I like the whole thing. I have two sections for you, I have the performance which I think is improving and then I have the technique…you got the taste of the Jive which was nice to see.
While Chief Judge Shirley Ballas had reservations about Ellie’s technique, as she told the comedian, “I loved the theme, I thought the narrative was good but for me the technique completely missed.
Not a fan: ‘You got off on the wrong foot, it was lackluster I’m afraid,’ Craig said as he scored the performance
It’s time to dance! The comedian performed an energetic jive with partner Johannes, as they donned matching pink plaid shirts
“He looked quite heavy and a bit flat. There’s no mistaking your personality is exquisite but, at week 10, I want a bit of both if we can.
On a more positive note, Anton added: “I love the way you play your numbers. You could be a musical star, you have a great personality… I thought that was wonderful, well done .
Giving his score, Craig offered five, Shirley gave six, while Motsi and Anton gave seven, totaling 25 – leaving them bottom of the standings.
Disappointing: Giving his score, Craig offered five, Shirley gave six, while Motsi and Shirley gave seven, totaling 25 – leaving them bottom of the standings
“At least it wasn’t a four,” replied Ellie, who had covered her eyes and buried her head in Johannes’ chest during the score.
While the star, who had already landed at the bottom of the charts, seemed able to laugh off the disappointing comments, many viewers weren’t so forgiving when they took to social media.
“I don’t care what the judges say / Enjoyed Ellie and Johannes’ jive – it was camp, cute and they had fun,” one fan wrote.
While many fought against both Ellie and Helen Skelton (who also received a five from the judge), one viewer wrote, “Craig is just ridiculous. Neither Ellie nor Helen should have gotten a 5′.
Outrage: While the star seemed able to laugh off the disappointing comments, many viewers weren’t so forgiving when they took to social media
“There was no way a 5 could tell who Craig wants to go home, Helen or Ellie, totally underrated,” another joked.
Elsewhere in the show, Will Mellor managed to top the leaderboard by scoring 38 points out of a possible 40 with his impressive Charleston.
And a dancing duo will just miss out on next week’s semi-final, as the show returns tomorrow, Sunday November 27, to announce the result of the public vote and send a celebrity home.
The remaining six couples will take to the dance floor next week when Strictly Come Dancing airs live on Friday December 2 at 8:00 p.m., with the results airing on Saturday December 3 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
