Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radube have become the latest couple to leave Strictly Come Dancing after viewers were left in bits over who was in the bottom two. The actress and comedian, 38, and her dance partner, whose partnership has won the hearts of the nation since the beginning of the show, faced Fleur East and Vito Coppola in the dreaded dance off during the results show, which aired on BBC One on Sunday, November 27.
But after Fleur - who said she was "not surprised" to be in the bottom two once again after being in it twice before (much to the dismay of many Strictly viewers, who have dubbed the show a "popularity" contest, as opposed to a dance contest) - performed a faultless rumba once again, Ellie was sent packing. She failed to impress the judges with technical abilities during her jive to Van Morrison's Brown Eyed girl - a result which devastated the remaining stars, including former X-factor star Fleur.
After both pairs had danced what could have been their very last dance on the show, Tess Daly, who presents the beloved BBC One show with Claudia Winkleman, turned to the judges for their decision over who should be saved.
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The ever-critical Craig Revel-Horwood chose to save Fleur, who last week scored the series' first 40 in Blackpool, explaining: "Based purely on technique alone, I would like to save Fleur and Vito."
Motsi Mabuse also opted for Fleur and said of her reasoning: "First of all, I would like to say that both couples performed really, really well and for me, also the technical aspect was very important, so I'm going to save Fleur and Vito."
With two votes for Fleur, it was down to Anton to make the deciding vote as, with three votes, Fleur would win the majority vote and go through to the quarter-final. He said: "Well I'd just like to say congratulations to both couples for getting this far into the competition, I thought you've both danced marvellously. I thought Ellie danced a great performance in your jive, and Fleur I think your technique was strong and your performance was powerful and I'd like to save Fleur and Vito."
Three votes meant that Ellie and Johannes' time on Strictly had come to an end. Head judge Shirley Ballas added how both couples danced exceptionally well but putting it down to technique, she too would have saved Fleur and Vito.
Following this confirmation that Ellie would become to ninth celebrity leave the competition, the pair received a standing ovation and cheers. Tess Daly asked if it had been everything she expected it to be, to which Ellie said: "It has. I'm going to be a cliche machine now, but it's been everything and more. I never, in a million years, expected to be in for this long. And to experience it so fully. And Strictly is about dancing, but it's also about people. And every part of this show, to the top to the bottom, from the excecs to the make-up to the hair to the costumes to the sets, to the band to my fellow celebs, the dancers — even some of the judges are alright. It's been an absolute privilege to become part of this Strictly alumni. It really has. I've absolutely loved it."
Adding how all Ellie ever wanted was her dance partner Johannes, she says: "He was my one. We've had so much fun and to borrow an Antonism - let me tell you about you, Johannes Radebe, you are as wonderful as everyone said you would be."
As both got emotional, Ellie tearfully carried on: "And I've said you're like human sunshine, and you really are. And you see people and you saw me and at every point when I have been so worried and so out of my comfort zone, and so self-conscious and felt weird, you have said 'embrace your weird, Ellie' and you've done it so full-heartedly and without judgement and it's been an absolute privilege to dance with you, Jo-Jo. I don't know what runs through your body. It's not blood. It's rhythm. And it's music and to watch you perform is incredible."
A tearful Johannes addressed his beloved dance partner: "Oh my goodness, it's been a pleasure, treasure - that's our thing. Ellie Taylor. Moving forward, embrace your weird. Embrace your long limbs. Because you are one gorgeous person. So thank you for everything. You know my heart, thank you."
Viewers were quick to voice their sadness at the pair leaving and gushed their love for this special pairing. Ruth Boreham wrote: "I want a @jojo_radebe by my side to tell me to embrace my weird. So sad to see him and @EllieJaneTaylor go - such a beautiful amazing partnership #StrictlyComeDancing."
Another, @RobynLRP, added: "Gutted to see Ellie and Johannes leaving #StrictlyComeDancing", alongside @superTV247 who wrote: "Ellie and Johannes have been the most pleasant and uplifting couple to watch dancing this series! I really hoped she’d make it to the end because I looked forward to them the most every single week."
This result was a shock to many, but to some, it was a ruined surprise as the results were once again leaked soon after the live dance show. R ead more on that here. This result comes after Kym Marsh was forced to pull out of this week's live show after falling ill, it is hoped that all being well, Kym and Graziano return next week.
The couples now through to next week's quarter final are:
- Will Mellor and Nancy Xu
- Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał
- Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu
- Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez
- Kym Marsh and Graziano Di Prima
- Fleur East and Vito Coppola
Strictly Come Dancing's quarter final will air on Friday, December 2 at 8pm on BBC One with a musicals week special . The quarter final results will take place on Saturday, December 3 at the earlier time of 5:40pm.
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