Strictly: Kai discusses ‘dodgy’ lift with AJ on Radio 2
After what judges described as one of the highest standard of dance-offs in Strictly history it was time to say goodbye to Rhys Stephenson and Nancy Xu on Sunday night. Now Rose and Giovanni, AJ and Kai, and John and Johannes will all have their sights set on being crowned Strictly winners 2021.
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The three celebrities and their professional dance partners will be expected to perform three dances in the grand finale, including both the couple’s and judge’s favourite dances of the series and a dazzling show dance.
Great British Bake Off star John Waite and his dance partner Johannes Radebe were in the dance off on Sunday evening but were saved by all four Strictly judges.
The dance off may have given them an extra push in training to perfect their three dances and stun Saturday night’s audience in the Strictly ballroom.
The 32-year-old shot to fame after winning the third series of The Great British Bake Off in 2012.
He’s since released four cookbooks and featured on Steph’s Packed Lunch on Channel 4, Sunday Brunch, This Morning and The Alan Titchmarsh Show.
John and Johannes made Strictly history as the first same-sex male couple to compete on the show, and have received huge public backing.
The pair’s Argentine Tango was a particular favourite amongst fans and the judges as the two danced as if in a fearsome battle.
Craig Revel Horwood, who returned to the ballroom after being absent due to a positive Covid test, said: “It was fantastic seeing the Tango done in its original form, it was first danced by two men, I absolutely loved it.”
But Craig did not give the couple a 10, like the other three judges.
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AJ, John, and Rose have made it to the final of Strictly Come Dancing 2021 (Image: BBC)
Again, on Saturday, Craig stood in the way of a perfect score of 40 for John and Johannes’ emotional contemporary performance, and for his Jive.
John now stands as the only couple in the final not to have received a score of 40.
As for a Strictly win, John has vowed to continue dancing “whatever happens on the dance floor”.
“We’ve said it’s not about the competition, it’s not about what the judges think, it’s not about what the public think, it’s about how we feel we’ve done as a partnership because that’s what dance is about,” he told Sky News.
“I think if you become hung up on the Glitterball – as wonderful as it would look on my shelving unit, I’m not going to lie – you take your eye off the ball.”
John is yet to persuade Craig to raise his score to a 10 (Image: EXPRESS)
TV presenter AJ Odudu has been a consistent top scorer throughout the series alongside her partner and new Strictly pro Kai Widdrington.
A consistent high-scorer in her ballroom dances, the 33-year-old delighted again in the semi-finals with a foxtrot to Benny Goodman’s ‘Swing’, which earned her a perfect 40 from the judges.
AJ also appears to be Craig’s favourite performer this year, and he said he wished she had got into dancing when she was younger and trained as a professional.
On It Takes Two, professional dancer Oti Mabuse accused the judges of undermarking AJ.
She added: “The thing about AJ is, she’s so good that people sometimes, I think, forget that she’s never danced before.”
AJ received a 40 for her Foxtrot on Saturday night (Image: EXPRESS)
Romance rumours have heavily circulated regarding AJ and Kai. AJ even says her steamy routines with Kai have had a negative effect on her love life.
She told the Sun: “Oh my gosh, my direct messages are dry. I’ve not had one direct message from a potential suitor, that is not happening. [Any potential suitor has] witnessed me wrap my legs around Kai every week!”
She described her dance partner as both “kind” and “patient”, adding “he’s going to be in my life forever”.
AJ was previously a contestant on SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2019 and is mostly known for presenting Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother: Bit on the Side and the ITV gameshow Apocalypse Wow.
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The show has been running since 2004 and is the most popular BBC programme (Image: EXPRESS)
Finally, Rose Ayling-Ellis is best known for her role as Frankie Lewis in BBC soap Eastenders, and has made history this year as the first deaf contestant on Strictly.
Rose has captured the hearts of the nation and inspired the deaf community to follow their dreams.
She performed an incredible segment of dance to silence in week eight, a moment which Anton said was the greatest thing he had ever seen on Strictly.
Speaking about her Strictly experience, Rose said: “You learn so much about yourself doing the show.”
She added: “My confidence has grown. I feel I can just be myself now.”
“Going into a show that’s such a huge platform and being yourself is scary because you’re so exposed. But the response has been so positive, I feel like, ‘Oh, ok, that’s good, I’ll just carry on being me then!’”
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Rose performed a powerful dance in silence to show the British viewers what it was like to dance in (Image: EXPRESS)
Her Italian partner, Giovanni Pernice, has been a finalist three times previously but has never won.
Betting predictions have forecast Rose as a winner since the early weeks of the show.
In the semi-final Rose performed a steamy Argentine Tango, which was awarded full marks by the applauding judges.
The two partners share a strong connection and chemistry which has led many to wonder if Rose and Giovanni are a couple in real life.
Giovanni’s own relationship with reality TV star Maura Higgins broke down during the show after sources claimed she found it hard to watch Rose and Giovanni’s bond from the side-lines.
Giovanni told fans there is “more than just dancing” to his relationship with Rose. Though, Rose reportedly has a boyfriend who she is keeping away from the spotlight.
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