ONE more couple has left the Strictly ballroom ahead of next week’s final.
December 12, 2021, saw one celebrity say goodbye and miss out on their chance to compete for the coveted glitterball trophy.
Who left Strictly last night?
Rhys Stephenson was eliminated from Strictly on December 12, 2021.
The CBBC presenter and his partner Nancy Xu found themselves in the bottom two alongside Great British Bake Off Star John Whaite and his partner Johannes Radebe.
Rhys found himself saying goodbye after three judges voted to save John and Johannes, who made history this year after becoming the show’s first ever male same sex couple.
After his elimination, Rhys said: “I may not have gotten to the final but I learnt so much just from being on this show, from everyone who’s supported us in this new family, to have spent time with this champion of a dancer who’s put so much into me.
“Thank you for being that partner.
£I should use your actual name which is Xu YouJie. Thank you so much, Nancy Xu YouJie, for being there, being my rock and everything I needed to get through this Thank you.”
Who was in the dance off?
It was a tense week on the show as there were just five points between the top of the leader board (AJ Odudu with 79 points) and the bottom (Rhys Stephenson with 74 points).
The public vote saved Rose Ayling-Ellis and AJ Odudu, leaving John Whaite and Rhys Stephenson vulnerable.
After the dance off, Judge Craig Revel Horwood admitted that “in all the years that I’ve been doing the show since 2004, I really do not want to make this decision tonight.”
He added that he thought both couples were “equal” and deserved a place in the final, but eventually chose to save John and Johannes.
Judges Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke followed suit, meaning Rhys and Nancy had to say goodbye to their place in the competition.
