Ellie Simmonds has become the sixth celebrity to leave the dance floor in Strictly Come Dancing 2022 after facing Molly Rainford in the dreaded dance-off.
Both couples re-performed their routines, with Ellie and dance partner Nikita Kuzmin performing their Charleston to Kiss Me Kate’s Too Darn Hot.
Then Molly and her dance partner Carlos Gu performed their foxtrot to My Sun and My Stars’ You Make Me Happy to impress the judges and stay in the competition.
After both couples danced a second time, the judges returned their verdict, with Craig Revel Horwood deciding to save Molly and Carlos.
Everywhere: Ellie Simmonds (right) became the sixth celebrity to leave the dance floor in Strictly Come Dancing 2022 after facing Molly Rainford in the dreaded Danced-Off
He said: “Well the couple I want to save is a couple who I think danced better than they did on Saturday night, in that particular dance, and that couple is Molly and Carlos.”
Motsi Mabuse agreed, adding: “At first I thought this dance was amazing. Both couples danced really, really just exceptionally well. I have decided to save Molly and Carlos.’
Anton Du Beke confirmed the result and said: “Well I think both couples can boast of dancing an absolutely amazing dance.
“But the couple I want to save to make the performance even better than Saturday night is Molly and Carlos.”
Thank you: The emotional star wiped away tears after praising dance partner Nikita Kuzmin for helping “change her life”.
Here we go: Both couples performed their routines again, with Ellie and dance partner Nikita Kuzmin performing their Charleston to Kiss Me Kate’s Too Darn Hot
With three votes for Molly and Carlos, it meant they had won the majority of the votes and would still remain in contention, but Head Judge Shirley Ballas also said she saved Molly and Carlos.
She said: “Well it was one of the best dance-offs I’ve ever seen but again the performance was a bit stronger and I would have given it to Molly and Carlos.”
When asked by Tess about her time on the show, Ellie said: “I literally had the time of my life. It was the most incredible experience – truly life changing.
“I want to thank Nikita so much. I will miss him – he changed my life and my confidence. And all of you – the professionals. Every single one of you involved in this Strictly. Behind closed doors, the costume designers, I literally loved waking up and dancing every day. I will dance forever.’
Almost, but not quite: Ellie’s dance-off performance wasn’t quite enough to get her through to next week’s show
Chemistry on the dance floor: It was one last hooray from Ellie and Nikita during a memorable dance-off on Sunday night’s show
She added: “It’s incredible, this show is life changing. He is [Nikita] changed my life. We had the most amazing days. We didn’t just have dance days – we had days where we just talked for hours.
“And the trust you’ve given me – I seem confident but you know how I am, I worry so much about everything and we’ve represented literally everything. We went out there and danced our lives every night and I loved it so much.
When asked if he had any words for his partner, an emotional Nikita said, “First, next time, let me speak first because I’m crying! I’m a little disappointed because I wanted Ellie to have a little more time on this TV show, I know how much it means to her.
Tribute: “It’s amazing, this show is life changing. He is [Nikita] changed my life,” Ellie said of her dance partner after Molly was dialed through unanimously
Farewell: Ellie was surrounded by her Strictly co-stars after the judges gave their unanimous vote on Sunday night’s show
“I am really happy that this journey has accompanied you [Ellie] because she taught me so much, so much empathy, just so much, I learned so much in those seven weeks.
“I really wanted to go to Blackpool with you, I think we should go there to do the rides? I love you Els, I just want to tell you that every single person in this room loves you. That’s just to say what a beautiful person you are.
“You spend time going to every person in this room, you care for everyone, you’re just such a wonderful person and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to dance with you.”
Sunday’s results show kicked off with a superb Bollywood commercial-inspired performance by the Strictly professionals, and Welsh actor Luke Evans performed his single ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ from his album ‘A Song For You’.
The remaining nine couples will hit the dance floor next when Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, November 12 at 6:55 p.m. The results will be shown on BBC One on Sunday 13 November at 19:20.