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After a spectacular take on an Encanto routine to open Strictly Come Dancing movie week, the contestants also embodied characters from their favourite films. Radio presenter Richie Anderson and partner Giovanni Pernice took on the roles of Pumba and Timone from the Lion King for their Samba routine. However, after the public vote put them in the dance-off, head judge Shirley Ballas was left stunned once again when her fellow judges decided to send them home.
Richie and Giovanni opened the spectacular show with their Samba and left the judges lost for words when receiving their comments.
Giggling at their costumes, she expressed: “I don’t think I will ever look at Giovanni the same way again.
“Amazing! Well first of all an awful lot of content in your dancing there, beautiful stationary Samba walks with your runs and pivots, lovely bounce going on.
“Overall, I would probably have to say this is one of your best numbers so far!”
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She went on to score their performance an eight, which caused some uproar from viewers who claimed she was scoring too high.
However, despite Shirley’s optimism, Richie and Giovanni were in the dance-off with Fleur East and partner Vito Coppola.
Both couples performed their routine again in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition.
Sadly for Richie, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all decided to save Fleur and Vito, meaning Richie’s journey had come to an end.
Expressing her annoyance at her fellow judges, Shirley expressed: “I just felt on the evening both couples made mistakes but the quality of Kaye was by far superior on that evening, and I was absolutely mortified that she left to be quite honest.
“I love my fellow judges, and we’re all there to do a job, but that was one they didn’t quite get right.”
Touching on his time in the competition and thanking Giovanni for having patience for him, Richie told Tess Daly: “Do you know what as a Strictly fan I always thought it was a magical thing to be a part of, and being here it really is.
“I want to thank this guy [Giovanni] as well, he’s been so amazing, and I feel so lucky that I’ve got to dance with you every day.
“Not only are you a fantastic dancer but you are also a fantastic guy on top of that. I want to thank all my family and friends and my other half Dean who is in the audience, I love you so much.”
Giovanni replied: “I have to say it’s been an honour to be able to dance with you because I know how much you love Strictly Come Dancing, you really are a superfan.
“It’s been a shame it’s been too short for us but I hope you’ve enjoyed every single second of it, and it stays in your heart forever.”
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday from 6:30pm on BBC One, followed by the results show on Sunday.
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