Entertainment
Strictly 2021: Tilly Ramsay pays sweet tribute to ‘best friend’ Nikita Kutzman after losing out to Rhys Stephenson in dance-off
Tilly and Nikita were voted out on Sunday night (Picture: BBC)
Tilly Ramsay became the ninth celebrity to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing and narrowly misses out on a place in the show’s quarter final.
She found herself in the dreaded dance-off yet again but failed to convince the show’s judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke, Shirley Ballas and guest judge Cynthia Erivo, she should remain in the competition.
Instead, all four judges chose to save CBBC star Rhys Stephenson over the TV presenter.
Saturday’s show saw Tilly take on the Samba but she found herself at the bottom of the leader board despite a fantastic effort with her Latin routine.
Tonight saw both couples performing their routines again, with Rhys and his partner Nancy Xu performing their Waltz to You Light Up My Life by Whitney Houston, which received huge praise the night before.
But it was Tilly’s time to wave goodbye to the dazzling dancefloor as she departs with dance partner Nikita Kutzman.
Guest judge Cynthia called the decision ‘really difficult’ before adding: ‘Both couples did beautifully but it just came down to the tiny details like the finish of the footwork. I’d like to save Rhys and Nancy.’
Tilly and Nikita danced for the final time this evening (Picture: BBC)
Anton agreed, commenting: ‘Tilly, as we’ve come to expect, put in a great performance. She’s an absolute fighter. But with slightly better technique and better quality, I’d like to save Rhys and Nancy.’
When asked by host Tess Daly about their time on the show, Tilly said: ‘I’d just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has made this an amazing, positive journey for me.
‘From everyone here to backstage, wardrobe, makeup and camera crew. It’s just been the most extraordinary time. I found out something about myself that I didn’t know I could do, I didn’t know I could dance and have fun like this.
‘So a massive thank you and, obviously, a huge thank you to Nikita who has guided me out of my shell and has just made this the most amazing experience.’
When asked for her message to Nikita, Tilly quickly made clear her fondness for her partner.
She said to him: ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you. It’s just been amazing. I really meant it when I said I made a best friend for life.
‘You’ve just been incredible. Thank you for the best couple of weeks.’
Nikita was then asked if he had any words for Tilly and said: ‘I’m the most emotional person so I hope I don’t cry.
More: Strictly Come Dancing
‘I’m just grateful for everything, for the whole Strictly team, for the production team, for the costume, for the make-up, for everything. Thank you guys, thank you to the professionals and cast, and a huge, huge thank you to Tilly.’
With just five couples now remaining on the show, who will make it through to the semi-finals next weekend?
Strictly Come Dancing returns next Saturday at 6.40pm on BBC One.
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