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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Rose Hill

Why Strictly is on tonight? Live show airing on Friday for first time in schedule shake-up

Strictly's live show is airing on a Friday for the first time ever in a major schedule shake-up.

This year's musicals-themed quarter-final is airing a day earlier at 8pm to make way for World Cup coverage.

The show will open with a huge dance extravaganza featuring West End legends Marisha Wallace, Ivano Turco and Trevor Dion Nicholas.

Quarter-finalists Fleur East, Hamza Yassin, Kym Marsh, Molly Rainford and Will Mellor will be battling it out for a semi-final place by taking on musical-themed numbers.

The results show will be airing at the early time of 5.40pm on Saturday.

Also returning to Strictly is former pro dancer Oti Mabuse - judge Motsi's sister - who will be choreographing a routine for the professionals to open the show.

Helen Skelton will be dancing for a place in the semi-final (PA)

Oti, who teamed up with fellow choreographer Nikki Trow to create the routine, said: “What an amazing opportunity.”

The 32 year old was a Strictly pro for seven series, finishing 11th last year with rugby player Ugo Monye.

She lifted the glitterball trophy with her 2019 partner Kelvin Fletcher and in 2020 with Bill Bailey.

Will Mellor will be hoping to get through to next week (PA)
Molly Rainford will hoping to avoid the dance-off (BBC/Guy Levy)

It comes after Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe became the latest couple to be eliminated from the show at the weekend.

The comedienne and actress found herself in the dreaded dance-off alongside her professional dancing partner Johannes Radebe and Fleur East and Vito Coppola.

Ellie and Johannes Radebe danced their Jive to Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison again, while Fleur and Vito performed their Rumba to Too Lost in You by the Sugababes in a bid to stay another week.

Oti Mabuse will be returning to Strictly tonight (BBC/Guy Levy)

All judges voted to save Fleur and Vito, meaning that Ellie and Johnnes were out.

Speaking about Johannes, Ellie said: "We’ve had so much fun. And to borrow an Anton-ism, let me tell you about you Johannes Radebe. You [Johannes] are as wonderful as everyone said you would be, and I’ve said you’re like human sunshine and you really really are.

"You see people and you saw me, at every point. I have been so worried and so out of my comfort zone and so self-conscious and so weird and you have said 'embrace your weird Ellie'. You’ve done it so full-heartedly and without judgement."

Johannes also paid tribute to his friend, adding: " Oh my goodness - it’s been a pleasure, treasure, that’s our thing. Ellie Taylor, moving forward, embrace your weird! Embrace your long limbs, because you are one gorgeous person."

*Strictly airs on Friday at 8pm on BBC One

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