Entertainment
Strictly Come Dancing 2021: Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice make history with first perfect score of 40 as Ed Sheeran shares surprise message
Giovanni Pernice and Rose Ayling-Ellis on Strictly Come Dancing (Picture: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing stars Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice have achieved the first perfect score of the 2021 series, while also being bowled over by a surprise message of support from Ed Sheeran.
For tonight’s show on BBC One, frontrunners Rose and Giovanni performed a stunning Tango to Shivers by Ed Sheeran, with the EastEnders actor taking on the persona of an evil ice queen.
Viewers at home were absolutely astounded by the beautiful dance, with judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke similarly impressed.
Craig, known as being the most critical of the judges, told Rose that she had ‘smashed’ the performance, as she and Giovanni rushed up the stairs to receive their scores.
Just before finding out how they’d done, Rose was shocked beyond belief when a video message from Ed popped up on screen, as the musician told her that he was ‘honoured’ that she danced to his track.
Then – the moment of truth. As soon as Craig’s 10 paddle shot up in the air, it quickly became apparent that it was going to be a full house, making history as the earliest a couple has ever received a perfect score in the competition.
Giovanni, whose track record for scoring high on Halloween Week speaks for itself, became overcome with emotion, dropping to the ground and covering his face as he broke down in tears.
He and Rose embraced over their incredible achievement as celebratory messages from their fans flooded social media.
‘What can I say, Rose & Giovanni absolutely wonderful to watch. Most enjoyable dance this evening, supernaturally spectacular!’ one person tweeted.
‘Rose and Giovanni made me sob. Just absolutely phenomenal,’ another fan said.
Someone else said that in their opinion, Rose and Giovanni ‘deserved full marks’ as they delivered a ‘perfect Tango’.
‘I’m sorry but Giovanni crying when him and Rose got a 40 is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,’ one fan said.
Last week, Rose and Giovanni received adulation from numerous Strictly fans when they incorporated sign language into their emotive Viennese Waltz.
More: Strictly Come Dancing
Rose was amazed when she was told by Janette Manrara on It Takes Two that after their dance, online searches for sign language surged by 488%.
During an appearance on The Last Leg on Friday night, she expressed her pride in the dance, saying that it was ‘making history’.
The Strictly Come Dancing results show airs tomorrow at 7.15pm on BBC One.
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