Strictly Come Dancing saw its second celebrity contestant of the series leave on a highly tense Sunday night episode. Toyah Willcox and partner Neil Jones were voted out after ending up in the bottom two alongside Paul Merson and Karen Hauer.
When Toyah learned she was going into the dance-off, she emotionally uttered: “I feel so sorry for Neil! ” Following the tense face-off that had Toyah and Neil reprising their Samba to Disney’s Poor Unfortunate Souls, while Paul and Karen gave their Cha Cha another go to the tune of The Magnificent Seven, it came down to the judges’ critical decisions. Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke together decided to save Paul and Karen.
As they secured the majority decision, Shirley Ballas also concurred, confirming she would have made the same choice.
Gushing about her journey on Strictly Come Dancing, Toyah reflected: “It’s been the best two months of my life, it has been fantastic. I have enjoyed every second. And you (Neil) have been phenomenal, thank you so much.”
She heaped praise on her professional dance partner, saying: “It was immediate, it had to be Neil. I felt so comfortable and safe. You’re a great teacher, you’re a great friend as well. You’ve just given me a new zest for life, that’s the most valuable thing I’ve come away with.”, reports the Mirror.
Meanwhile, Neil Jones shared his experience: “She has made me laugh so much, I have never seen someone work so hard – I’m the one asking for breaks every now and then! She just kept going, she wanted to learn so much. If you saw her in the hallway she’s been practicing. Everyone’s been telling me have you seen Toyah practicing, she’s brilliant and she’s what Strictly is all about, and I’ve loved every moment.”
The show also bid farewell to Olympian Tom Dean and his partner Nadiya Bychkova, who were the first to depart from the competition last weekend. Sunday’s results show, set against the backdrop of Movie Week, featured a romantic comedy-themed dance by choreographer Mandy Moore with Neil in the lead role.
Additionally, Alexis Ffrench delivered a stunning musical performance of “The Heart Asks Pleasure First”.
As the contest heats up, the remaining 13 pairs are gearing up to impress once again when Strictly Come Dancing returns next week.
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