Ellie Taylor has given fans a look at her Strictly Come Dancing mascot that it appears her daughter won't let her leave without as she heads for another Saturday night in the ballroom. The comedian and actress took to Instagram to show off the mini good luck charm with her followers as she prepared for her next routine with Johannes Radebe.
The dancing pair will be performing their own Couple’s Choice routine to to I Put A Spell On You by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, obviously from Hocus Pocus. But before leaving home for some Halloween fun, Ellie had to be sure to pack one thing.
"She makes me take him with me every week," the Ted Lesso star wrote alongside a video of her showing a mini soft toy of Paw Patrol's Rubble. Ellie was seemingly referring to her daughter Valentina, who was born in 2018 and who Ellie shares with her husband Phil Black, an CNN International reporter.
She added a string of red hearts to the post before getting on her way to the hotel for some pre-Strictly prep on Friday night (October 28). It comes after Johannes jokingly put a lot of pressure on Ellie when they sat down for an interview on ITV's Lorraine earlier this week.
The pair chatted to Christine Lampard, who was filling in for the show's host Lorraine Kelly this week, and Johannes teased Ellie he was counting on Ellie to bag him the Glitterball trophy after he came runners-up with Bake Off star John Whaite during the 2021 series to eventual winners Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice.
Christine told Johannes: "You were very close to that glitterball. Very touching distance!" to which the professional dancer burst out laughing and let out a jovial cry before responding: "This is why we are thankful for second chances, isn't it?" He then turned to Ellie and cheekily added: "No pressure..."
Ellie, 38, then replied: "Blimey!" before Johannes went on: "You know, we went all the way to the finals. I wish the same for us, babe, and more if that's possible."
But in a new interview with The Sun, Johannes said that there is "no competition" with the other couples and is positive he can get to the final and lift the coveted glitterball trophy with Ellie. The 35-year-old said when asked about his chances of winning Strictly 2022: "There is nothing in trying if you know what I mean, I'm sure Ellie would say different, but I say wow, I'm here, why not go for the glitterball.
"The training has been gruelling; we work more than 10 hours a day and I love the fact that she's got a supportive family who make sure those hours are possible for her. That is why I said I wish she could be applauded for what she does because honestly she has dedicated her life to this experience and that is the most beautiful thing for me."
Johannes, who spoke to the publication after winning the Inspirational Public Figure at 2022 Ethnicity Awards, added: "We are our biggest competition, you know what I mean, when you try to get that dance on Saturday. You work against you and yourself and your partnership."
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