CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson narrowly missed out on a place in the Strictly Come Dancing final after becoming the 11th contestant to be eliminated from the dance competition in what was hailed "the most amazing dance off ever" against John Whaite.
The CBBC presenter, 28, came bottom of the leaderboard during the show’s semi-final on Saturday night after the four remaining couples performed two routines.
Rhys and his professional partner, Nancy Xu, landed in the dance-off against Bake Off winner John Whaite and his partner Johannes Radebe, where both couples had to reprise one of their dances in a bid to impress the judges and secure their place in the final next week.
READ MORE: Strictly fans hail "best partnership in history" as final approaches
After Stephenson and Xu performed their samba to It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera) by Michael Buble again, and Whaite and Radebe danced their jive to Higher Power by Coldplay, it was a unanimous decision by the judges to save the TV baker, sending Stephenson packing.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood deliberated intensely on his decision, saying: “In all the years I’ve been doing the show since 2004, I really do not want to make this decision tonight.
“This has been one of the most amazing dance-offs I’ve ever witnessed. Both couples are equal and both couples deserve to go through and I just want to put both couples through.
“I know I’m not allowed to do that so I have to choose. I’m going on the technical side and it’s to do with clean finishes. I’d like to put through to the final: John and Johannes.”
Motsi Mabuse also felt both couples “deserved to stay in the competition” but finally voted to save Whaite and Radebe, while Anton Du Beke agreed it was “such an event contest” but based his decision on what he really liked.
With three votes to Whaite and Radebe, they had already won the majority vote but head judge Shirley Ballas agreed that she would have saved the pair as well.
Talking about his time on the show with co-host Tess Daly, an emotional Rhys said: “I might not have gotten to the final but I learnt so much from just being on this show, from everyone here who’s just supported us in this new family.
“To have the time to spend with this champion of a dancer (Nancy) who’s put so much into me. Thank you for just letting my energy shine. Thank you for being that partner.
“I should use your actual name which is Xu YouJie. Thank you so much Nancy Xu YouJie, for just being there, being my rock and everything I needed to get through this. Thank you.”
After watching a video collage of their best bits, an emotional Stephenson added: “It’s good to cry, it’s good to feel. Strictly makes you feel things. You feel so much and sometimes that’s overwhelming.”
Xu also praised Stephenson for being an “amazing dancer partner” and making her first year on the show “absolutely epic”.
She added: “I want to say a massive thank you to everyone in the show for supporting us from the very beginning. You’ve become stronger and stronger every week.”
The semi-final show saw TV presenter AJ Odudu and actress Rose Ayling-Ellis come joint top of the leaderboard after both celebrities secured a perfect 40 and a score of 39 for their two routines.
The Strictly finalists: Whaite and Radebe, Odudu and Kai Widdrington, and Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice; will take to the dancefloor in the Strictly Come Dancing Final 2021 on December 18 at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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