Who is Cynthia Erivo and which musicals has she been in as she steps in for Strictly’s Craig Revel-Horwood

Cynthia Erivo will step in for Craig Revel-Horwood this weekend (Picture: Getty; PA)

Cynthia Erivo is set to step in for Craig Revel-Horwood on this weekend’s Strictly Come Dancing’s musicals week after the judge tested positive for coronavirus. 

The 34-year-old Oscar nominee, who is famous as a star of musicals herself, will be taking his seat to judge the remaining dancers on Saturday night’s show. 

She said in a statement: ‘I’m so delighted to be joining the Strictly judging panel for Musicals Week. Musicals have a unique place in my heart, it’s such a special way of connecting all art and making it one.

‘I’m excited to bring my experience to the show and I can’t wait to see what the couples have in store this weekend.’

Who is Cynthia Erivo?

London-born Cynthia is a multi-award-winning actress with Daytime Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards under her belt. 

Cynthia starred in The Color Purple on Broadway (Picture: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

Her first TV role was in Michaela Coel’s 2015 series Chewing Gum and she has starred in films including Bad Times at the El Royale as well as portraying American abolitionist Harriet Tubman in 2019’s Harriet. 

Which musicals has Cynthia Erivo been in?

Cynthia has recently been cast as Elphaba in the movie adaptation of Wicked, one of the biggest musicals on Broadway and London’s West End, opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda.

She has also starred in the UK tour of Sister Act and the Broadway tour of The Color Purple, as well as taking part in I Can’t Sing! The X Factor Musical. 

This weekend, she will be judging the remaining celebrities on Strictly as they take on some of the classic tracks from the musicals to make it through to next week. 

She has also starred in Sister Act (Picture: Tristram Kenton)

Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice will dance the Quickstep to Love Is An Open Door from Frozen, while AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington will dance a Waltz to Edelweiss from The Sound Of Music.

Rhys Stephenson and Nancy Zu will be jiving to the theme from Footloose, as Dan Walker takes on the Charleston with Nadiya Bychkova, performing to Good Morning from Singin’ In The Rain.

More: Strictly Come Dancing

John Whaite and partner Johannes Radebe will perform a Viennese Waltz to Chim Chim Cher-ee from Mary Poppins, and Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden will perform their couple’s choice to On My Own from Les Miserables.

Tilly Ramsay and Nikita Kuzmin will dance another couple’s choice routine to Revolting Children from her namesake musical, Matilda.

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