Advertisement

Rose's silent dance, Craig gets COVID and it's musicals week: 5 things we learned from 'Strictly' this week

The biggest stories from the ballroom this week. (BBC)
The biggest stories from the ballroom this week. (BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing was hit by COVID for a third time this series - this week saw judge Craig Revel Horwood put into isolation.

Unfortunately, he'll miss one of his favourite shows of the series, musicals week, although Broadway star Cynthia Erivo is on hand to replace him.

Read more: All the shows, songs and dances for musicals week

Last weekend's show saw what Anton Du Beke described as "the best thing I've ever seen on Strictly" as Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice performed a moving dance with a silent section.

And we sadly bid farewell to Strictly superfan Sara Davies, while Rhys Stephenson scored a perfect 40 for his amazing Charleston.

Here's the week in Strictly news, 13-19 November.

Rose's silent dance is Strictly's greatest ever moment

She's been impressing the judges and viewers for weeks now, but on Saturday night EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis and her partner Giovanni Pernice created a stand-out moment that will go down in history.

The pair were dancing their couple's choice to Clean Bandit's Symphony when they chose to include a silent section to represent how the deaf star experiences taking part in Strictly.

Read more: The best ever musicals week dances

It was a complete surprise to the judges, who were moved to tears with Anton Du Beke saying: "You get moments like this, I've been doing this show since the beginning, same as Craig and same as you Tess.

"I've had the great pleasure and the honour of being on Strictly Come Dancing for a long time - getting a bit emotional - and that's the greatest thing I've ever seen on this show, congratulations."

The dance sparked a conversation about what it was like to live as a deaf person, while Ayling-Ellis told viewers: "Being deaf is such a joy."

Craig Revel Horwood has COVID

Craig Revel Horwood will have to sit out musicals week. (BBC)
Craig Revel Horwood will have to sit out musicals week. (BBC)

Unfortunately, judge Craig Revel Horwood has become the victim of the third case of coronavirus this series has seen.

And even more sadly for West End pro Revel Horwood, it means he'll be in isolation for musicals week.

Early in the series, Tom Fletcher had to miss a week of competition when he tested positive for COVID.

Then Judi Love was voted out last month after struggling to recover from the virus which also put her oiut for a week.

Revel Horwood is expected to return to the judges' table next weekend.

Musicals week gets a guest judge with Cynthia Erivo

Programme Name: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - TX: n/a - Episode: Strictly Come Dancing - Generics (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: Guest judge, Cynthia Erivo - (C) Terrell Mullins - Photographer: Terrell Mullins
Cynthia Erivo replaces Craig Revel Horwood this week. (Terrell Mullins)

Revel Horwood might be out of musicals week, but the couples will still have four judges to impress - guest judge Cynthia Erivo will be taking his place.

The Broadway and screen star knows a thing or two about how a show dance should look, so the couples will need to bring their A-game on Saturday.

Read more: Ed Balls and Maisie Smith amongst Strictly 2021 cast's most inspiring former stars

She said: "I’m so delighted to be joining the Strictly judging panel for musicals week. Musicals have a unique place in my heart, it’s such a special way of connecting all art and making it one.

"I’m excited to bring my experience to the show and I can’t wait to see what the couples have in store this weekend."

Rhys Stephenson scores a perfect 40 in exhausting Charleston

WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 20:00:01 on 13/11/2021 - Programme Name: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - TX: 13/11/2021 - Episode: n/a (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: **DRESS REHEARSAL - EMBARGOED UNTIL 20:00 HRS ON SATURDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 2021** Nancy Xu, Rhys Stephenson - (C) BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy
Nancy Xu and Rhys Stephenson danced the perfect Charleston. (BBC/Guy Levy)

It's always a tiring dance, but few celebrities have put so much effort into the Charleston that they were left literally crawling off the ballroom floor at the end of it.

CBBC presenter Stephenson showed exactly what the phrase "leave it all on the floor" means as he didn't even have enough spare energy to get back onto his feet on Saturday night.

It was all worth it though, as he and Nancy Xu scored a perfect 40 points for their incredibly fast-paced routine.

Head judge Shirley Ballas told him: "I just want to dance with Rhys side by side. I've never, ever seen a Charleston like that."

Goodbye, Sara Davies...and goodbye, Aljaz Skorjanec?

WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 20:00:00 on 14/11/2021 - Programme Name: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - TX: 14/11/2021 - Episode: n/a (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: **RESULTS SHOW - EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 20:00 HRS ON SUNDAY 14TH NOVEMBER 2021**

Sara and Aljaz take their final dance Tess Daly, Sara Davies, Aljaz Skorjanec - (C) BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy
Sara Davies and Aljaz Skorjanec were voted out. (BBC/Guy Levy)

Dragon's Den star Sara Davies became the latest unlucky celebrity voted off the show at the weekend, admitting she'd spent the next day in tears and too upset to even talk to her partner Aljaz Skorjanec.

But even more worryingly for Strictly fans, Skorjanec seemed to confirm rumours that it was his last year on the show during comments made after the vote.

Read more: Strictly 2021 stars share their most stressful moments so far

He said: "I'm going to miss everything about this show."

The rumours have since been brushed off as unconfirmed, but with Skorjanec's wife Janette Manrara having quit the main show this time in favour of presenting spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two, it's possible he has his eye on other projects, too.

Watch: Strictly 2021 stars share their most inspiring former contestants