Entertainment
Strictly Come Dancing’s Ugo Monye eliminated from competition after failing to impress judges in dance-off
Ugo lost out to Rhys Stephenson in the dance-off (Picture: PA)
Strictly Come Dancing’s Ugo Monye has become the fourth celebrity to be eliminated from the 2021 series after facing Rhys Stephenson in the dance-off.
Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas were left unimpressed with the former England rugby international’s routines over the weekend.
It brings an end to his dancing partner Oti Mabuse’s winning streak, after taking the crown with Kevin Fletcher and Bill Bailey in 2019 and 2020 respectively
Sunday’s episode saw Ugo and Oti perform their Rumba to Leave The Door Open by Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak and Silk Sonic.
Rhys and his partner Nancy Xu performed their American Smooth to I’ve Got The World On A String by Michael Bublé, beating them in the dance off.
After both couples had danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts.
Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Rhys and Nancy, saying: ‘I just want to say I have the greatest respect for every celebrity who is brave enough to come on this show and bare their heart and soul to the nation, it takes guts. But, the couple I’d like to save is Rhys and Nancy.’
Motsi Mabuse chose to save Rhys and Nancy, adding: ‘I feel from the two couples, one couple was definitely stronger in this performance and I will save Rhys and Nancy.’
The former England rugby international left in week four (Picture: PA)
Anton Du Beke also chose to save Rhys and Nancy, going on to say: ‘‘Well, it so often turns out that the dance off seems to instil something in the couples and they’ve produced their best performances. So, on that performance alone, I’m going to give it to Rhys and Nancy.’
The votes meant that Rhys and Nancy were through to face another week, and head judge Shirley Ballas said she would have also decided to save Rhys and Nancy.
Speaking about his time on the show, Ugo said: ‘I’ve loved it. It’s an absolute privilege to be on this show and all I’ve wanted to do every week is just get a little bit better and I’ve done that.
Ugo failed to impress the judges on Sunday (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)
‘There’s lots of people that I would love to say thank you to. Oti, firstly, just for putting up with me. She said she wanted a challenge and she got one! To everyone else that’s in the competition, it’s truly incredible and I wish you all the very best of luck.’
He added: ‘To the judges – Craig – I think it’s really important to say that if you’re willing to accept the positive comments, you have to accept the criticism as well so thank you for all of your comments.’
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Oti also spoke about their time on the show together, saying: ‘I stand here in this very moment feeling very, very grateful. I am so grateful to be partnered with you. Thank you for having me as a teacher, as a trainer. Seeing you through your injury, I appreciate every single moment that you’ve given to me.
‘I am grateful for the show. To say I work on the best show in the whole country, with the best celebrities is a privilege and I am very grateful to [Ugo], thank you, thank you, thank you.’
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 7.10pm on BBC One.
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