Strictly announces fifth celebrity elimination...

[dutchman]

"You made me such a better person"



Strictly Come Dancing has revealed the fifth celebrity to be eliminated from the show, as model and actor Ellie Goldstein exited the competition. Ellie and her professional partner Vito Coppola were the latest couple to face Balvinder Sopal and pro Julian Caillon in the dance-off, after finding themselves in the Bottom Two during Halloween Week.

In tonight's results show, Ellie and Vito once again danced their Tango to Lady Gaga's 'Abracadabra' in a final attempt at impressing the judges. Meanwhile, EastEnders' Balvinder and Julian gave another performance of their Rumba to 'Stay' by Shakespears Sister.

Though the episode marked Balvinder's third dance-off of the series, judges - Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood - once again saved the soap star in an unanimous decision.

Head Judge Shirley Ballas didn't need to use her casting vote, but said she would've also saved Balvinder and Julian this week.

Following their elimination, an emotional Vito praised his "little sister" Ellie, and thanked her for making him a "better person".

"Honestly, there are no words I can use to describe how proud I am of you and you did really change my life so much. You made me such a better person," he gushed. "At the beginning of this year, I said to myself please, please, please can you send me a beautiful angel into my life? And now you arrived."

"I've never had a little sister but I always wanted one. Now, I have you and you're my little sister forever, and your big brother is always by your side."

Reflecting on her Strictly experience, Ellie added: "I've enjoyed it so much! [Vito] is a kind person and all I wanted from day one. You have been so heartwarming, thank you to you [Vito]."

The remaining nine couples will return to the dancefloor next Saturday (8 November) as the competition continues to heat up. Sunday (9 November) night's result show will feature a special performance from the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment to mark Remembrance Sunday.

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a69229051/strictly-come-dancing-fifth-celebrity-elimination/

[dutchman]

Strictly Come Dancing’s shock exit means its soul is up for grabs



Ellie Goldstein’s dramatic departure from Strictly this week – thanks to a unanimous judges' decision – was, like all great dance moves, all about timing.

It’s not just that Ellie went home, breaking a nation’s collective heart and ensuring no dry eyes in the Strictly studio. It’s not just that Strictly voted off its best storyline – it’s that her exit came just as Tess and Claudia’s departure looms.

The momentary on-screen absence of Tess herself on Saturday felt like an omen. When the camera cut to her spot and found La Voix instead, rising to the challenge like a trouper, quickly improvising an impromptu audition for the vacant presenter’s gig, it felt like a transmission from the future: Strictly mid-transformation, patching itself in real time.

The show has always had transformation as part of its essence – think of the foxtrot flops who become ballroom gods. And the viewers have usually championed representation: Rose Ayling-Ellis, a deaf competitor, won in 2021, as did Chris McCausland, who is blind, in 2024. Paralympian Lauren Steadman made the semi-final in 2018.

It's so reliable a pattern that Ellie was the bookies' favourite in August with odds of 3/1. The public and the critics loved her. Fans flooded social media with praise for her weekly improvements. Emma Bunton sent her a message of support. But Saturday night belonged to Lewis and this season’s first 40 score.

Anton Du Beke described their Couple's Choice tap dance to Radiohead's 'Creep' as “as good as anything we've seen on any series.”

It was a breathtaking performance – as were those of Alex, Karen, Amber, Vicki… indeed, apart from Harry and Karen languishing at the bottom of the leaderboard by quite some way, the remaining contestants are all from the perfect lines and tight turns school of ballroom.

Which is a different kind of Strictly. Highly polished routines from experienced celebs, delivered perfectly week in week out were not a route to victory in the Tess and Claudia years. They tended to lack story and soul. The public preferred to vote for the journey.

But that era is over. Now every result night is becoming a drama about what Britain wants from Strictly: reassurance or reinvention.

Which may make La Voix and Balvinder the unexpected agents of change. Balvinder is the reassurance candidate. She has been in the dance-off so many times this series that her survival routines are better than her main show dances.

The Rhumba to Shakespears Sister proved certain rules still hold – hit it slow and sensual in the dance-off. In old Strictly there’s still the “quiet survivor” archetype. If the show still has true magic, she’ll at least make it to the semi-final.

Drag star La Voix meanwhile, is reinvention personified, proving a genuine contender and a huge audience favourite, not just for the charisma but increasingly for the dancing.

This week they delivered their best dance to date with a Paso Doble that earned a high score of 35 but the sassy taking-over of the mic, coupled with their rule-redefining performance indicates a different direction. Someone must have a book on La Voix as frontrunner for the next series' main host.

Neither have to win to give guidance as to how Strictly will evolve. Both still offer magic, but very of very different kinds. What do we really want on a Saturday night — progress or comfort? The phone lines will open next Saturday.

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a69229468/strictly-come-dancing-ellie-exit/