COMEDIAN Ellie Taylor returned to Instagram after becoming the ninth celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing a week before the quarter final.
The Ted Lasso actress, 38, and Strictly pro Johannes Radebe found themselves in the dance off for the first time on Sunday night.
Tess Daly with Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe during the results show of Strictly Come Dancing
The remaining stars and pro dancers give them a sweet send off
Ellie took to Instagram as she broke her silence after facing unbeatable Fleur East in the dance off
They failed to impress the judges against the unbeatable Fleur East – who has landed in the bottom two multiple times – and they didn’t pick up a single vote from the panel for their jive to Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison.
Taking to Instagram Ellie, who had once feared she couldn’t dance because of her “lankiness”, broke her silence on her exit and penned: “A wild flipping ride I never imagined would last as long as it did.
“@johannesradebe you are the best boyfriend I’ve ever had. Thank you for your laughter, your awful lyric learning and for letting me stare blankly into your beautiful face for 8 hours a day as you teach me what is left and what is right.
“Thank you for helping me make peace with my lankiness and making me believe that maybe I can, despite a lifetime of telling myself otherwise, dance.
“Thank you, Jojo for some of the most special months of my life. Thank you for absolutely everything. Except the Cha Cha. That was f*cking awful.”
Judges Motsi Mabuse and Anton De Beke praised Ellie’s “powerful” dance but admitted Fleur had stronger “technique” as they voted to save the radio DJ.
Craig Revel Horwood agreed, and with three votes to save Fleur and Vito Coppola it was confirmed Ellie would be heading home, but head judge Shirley Ballas confirmed she would have also chosen to save Fleur.
When asked last night by host Tess Daly whether the competition had been everything she had expected, Ellie said on air: “It has and it’s been, 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.
“Strictly is about dancing but it’s also about the people, and every part of this show from the top to bottom, from the execs to the make-up, to the hair to the costumes, to the sets to the band, to my fellow celebs and the dancers – even some of the judges have been alright.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to become part of the Strictly alumni and I’ve really, really loved it.”
Sunday’s results show opened with a colourful number by the Strictly professionals to Lizzo’s 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready), and also saw a performance by Tom Grennan of his hit single with Joel Corry, Lionheart.
Strictly Come Dancing will return for musicals week on December 2 at 8pm, followed by the results show on December 3 at the earlier time of 5.40pm due to the World Cup.
Ellie and Johannes performed a jive to Brown Eyed Girl
Fleur and Vito were in the bottom two again
