The ballroom held its breath on Sunday night as Ellie Goldstein became the latest celebrity to exit Strictly Come Dancing, following a nail-biting dance-off defeat to EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal who has now triumphed in her third elimination showdown.
Ellie and her partner Vito Coppola delivered their eerie Tango to Lady Gagaâs âAbracadabraâ for the final time, while Balvinder and Julian Caillon responded with a moving Rumba set to Shakespears Sisterâs âStay.â
When the final notes faded, judges Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse all delivered the same verdict: Balvinder would go through. Head Judge Shirley Ballas, holding the deciding vote this week, concurred while commending Ellie for an âexceptional journeyâ throughout the series.
Ellieâs Emotional Farewell
Holding back tears, Ellie spoke quietly:
âIâve loved every moment. Vito is such a gentle, generous soul just what I wished for from the very beginning.â
Vito, clearly overwhelmed, then addressed her with a message that touched everyone watching:
âI canât put into words how proud I am of you. Youâve truly changed my life. I asked the universe for an angel and it gave me you. I never had a little sister before, but now I do. Youâll always be my sister.â
The audience erupted in applause as the two embraced, promising to keep dancing together beyond the show.
A Night of Music, Magic, and Memories
Sundayâs results show began with a spellbinding rendition of âHow To Be Humanâ by Celebrity Traitors star Cat Burns, marking the release of her new album.
Her performance was paired with a captivating contemporary routine from professional dancers Michelle Tsiakkas and Nancy Xu, before the Strictly pros returned to the floor for a blazing âMonstersâ Ballâ group number.
The Halloween special turned out to be one of the most dramatic and heartfelt nights of the series â a blend of dazzling spectacle and eerie elegance.
Whatâs Next: Nine Couples Still in the Running
With Ellie and Vito now out of the competition, nine partnerships remain. Strictly Come Dancing returns next weekend on BBC One and BBC iPlayer â the live show airing Saturday, November 8 at 6:25pm, with the results show on Sunday, November 9 at 7:10pm.
Next weekâs elimination will also include a special performance by the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment in tribute to Remembrance Sunday.
Halloween Week Standout: A Flawless 40!
Saturdayâs eerie extravaganza brought a landmark moment â Lewis Cope and Katya Jones captured the seasonâs first perfect 40 with their sensational Coupleâs Choice number set to a high-energy remix of Radioheadâs âCreep.â
Lewis, who grew up in Hartlepool as one of 13 children and left home at just 10 to chase his performing-arts dreams in London, struck an emotional chord. His powerful story, combined with bold, fearless choreography, left both judges and viewers visibly moved.
Motsi Mabuse hailed the routine as âout of this world,â Anton Du Beke called it âthe best of the series by a million miles,â and even notoriously tough Craig Revel Horwood raised his 10 paddle â sealing the pairâs first full-marks score of the season.
One Chapter Closes, Another Begins
As the glitter settled, Ellie Goldsteinâs poised farewell reminded audiences of what makes Strictly Come Dancing truly shine bravery on the dance floor, genuine partnership, and the tender emotion of heartfelt goodbyes.
With the competition tightening and Balvinder Sopal emerging as the seasonâs comeback queen, next weekâs showdown promises that absolutely anything can unfold beneath the glitterball.