Strictly Come Dancing: Ellie Taylor pay tribute to Johannes Radebe

Ellie Taylor paid a heartfelt tribute to fellow Strictly Come Dancing pro Johannes Radebe after the pair were knocked out of the ballroom competition on Sunday.
The 38-year-old comedian joked that Johannes, 35, was the “best boyfriend I’ve ever had”, after admitting she “never imagined” he would last as long as he did on the BBC show.
Ted Lasso actress Ellie was the ninth celebrity to be eliminated from this year’s series after finding herself at the dance against singer Fleur East, 35, and fellow professional Vito Coppola, 30.

Touching: Ellie Taylor, 38, paid a heartfelt tribute to fellow Strictly Come Dancing pro Johannes Radebe after the pair were dropped from the show on Sunday
Taking to Instagram to share a montage video of her and Johannes after the results show aired, Ellie wrote: “A wild ride I never imagined would last this long.”
‘@johannesradebe you are the best boyfriend I have ever had. Thank you for your laugh, your horrible learning of letters, and for letting me stare into your beautiful face for eight hours a day while you show me what’s left and what’s right.
‘Thank you for helping me make peace with my thinness and making me believe that maybe I can actually, despite a lifetime of telling me otherwise, dance.

Series exit: Ted Lasso actress Ellie was the ninth celebrity to be eliminated from the series this year.
‘Thank you, Jojo, for some of the most special months of my life.
‘Thank you for absolutely everything. Except the Cha Cha. That was fucking horrible.
During Saturday’s show, Ellie found herself at the bottom of the leaderboard after receiving just five out of ten points from judge Craig Revel Horwood.

Bye! Ellie and Johannes seemed thrilled when the news broke that the judges had picked them to leave the show.
After placing in the bottom two, Ellie played Van Morrison’s heir Jive to Brown Eyed Girl in an attempt to stay in the competition.
However, the judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke voted unanimously to save Fleur and Vito after they performed their Rumba to Too Lost in You by the Sugababes.
After both couples danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts.
Craig chose to save Fleur and Vito, explaining, “Based solely on technique, I’d like to save Fleur and Vito.”

She’s Out: Ellie and Johannes missed out on a spot on next week’s show after facing off against Fleur East and Vito Coppola at the dance
Motsi also chose to save the pair, saying: “First of all I would like to say that both pairs performed very well, also for me the technical aspect was very important, so I am going to save Fleur and Vito.”
Anton added: ‘Well, I’d just like to congratulate both couples for making it this far in the competition. They both danced beautifully.
‘I thought Ellie danced a great performance on your Jive. And Fleur, I thought that your technique was strong and your acting was powerful, and I would like to save Fleur and Vito.
With three votes in favor of Fleur and Vito, it meant they had won the majority vote and would remain in the competition anyway, however, head judge Shirley Ballas said she would have decided to save Fleur and Vito as well.

Vote Out: However, the judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke voted unanimously to save Fleur and Vito after they performed their Rumba to Too Lost.
She said: “Both couples danced exceptionally well, but on this occasion, for the technical qualities, it would have saved Fleur and Vito.”
Asked by presenter Tess Daly if it had been everything she hoped it would be, Ellie said: “It has been and it has been, I’m going to be a cliché machine now but it’s been everything and more.” Never in a million years did I expect to be here this long and experience it so fully.
“It’s strictly about the dance, but it’s also about the people, and every part of this show from top to bottom, from the executives to the makeup, the hair, the costumes, the sets, the band, my partner the celebrities and the dancers, even some of the judges have been great! It’s been an absolute privilege to be a Strictly alumni and I’ve really loved it.’

Oh! During Saturday’s show, Ellie found herself at the bottom of the leaderboard after receiving just five out of ten points from judge Craig Revel Horwood.

Safe: Craig chose to save Fleur and Vito, explaining, “Based solely on technique, I’d like to save Fleur and Vito.”
When asked about her special relationship with Johannes, Ellie said: “We’ve had a lot of fun.” And borrowing an antonym, let me tell you about you, Johannes Radebe. You [Johannes] you are as wonderful as everyone said you would be, and i have said that you are like human sunlight and you really are.
You see people and you saw me, at every point. I’ve been so worried and so out of my comfort zone and so self-conscious and so weird and you’ve said ‘hug your weird Ellie’. You have done it wholeheartedly and without judgment.
“It has been an absolute privilege to dance with you JoJo, I don’t know what runs through your body but it’s not blood, it’s rhythm and it’s music, and watching you perform is incredible.”
Asked if he had any words for his partner, Johannes said: “Oh my gosh, it’s been a treat, a treasure, that’s our thing.” Ellie Taylor, moving forward, embrace your weirdness! Embrace your long limbs, because you are a beautiful person. So thank you for everything, you know my heart, thank you.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One on Friday at 8pm