Strictly Come Dancing: Ellie Taylor pays tribute to Johannes Radebe

Ellie Taylor posted an emotional tribute to her Strictly Come Dancing pro partner Johannes Radebe following his elimination from the ballroom dancing competition on Sunday.

The comedian, 38, joked Twinkle Todd Johanns, 35, was the ‘best boyfriend she ever had’ after admitting she ‘never imagined’ it would last as long as she was on the BBC show .

Ted Lasso actress Ellie was the ninth celebrity to be eliminated from this year’s series, finding herself in the dance-off against singer Fleur East, 35, and her professional partner Vito Coppola, 30.

Taking to Instagram to share a montage video of herself and Johannes after the results show aired, Ellie wrote: ‘A wilder flipping ride than I ever imagined it will last.

‘@johannesradebe you are the best boyfriend I’ve ever had. Thank you for your laughter, for learning your awesome songs and for letting me stare blankly at your beautiful face eight hours a day as you teach me what’s left and what’s right.

“Thank you for helping me make peace with my thinness and making me believe that maybe I really can dance, despite telling myself otherwise all my life.”

‘Thank you JoJo for some of the most special months of my life.

‘Thank you for absolutely everything. Except Cha Cha. That was fucking awful.’

During Saturday’s show, Ellie found herself at the bottom of the leaderboard after receiving only five out of ten from judge Craig Revel Horwood.

After landing in the bottom two, Ellie performed the Heir Jive to Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison to stay in the competition.

However, the judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton du Beke, voted unanimously to save Fleur and Vito after they performed their rumba to Too Lost in You by the Sugababes.

After both couples danced a second time, the judges announced their verdicts.

Craig chose to save Fleur and Vito, explaining: ‘Based on technology alone I want to save Fleur and Vito.’

Motsi also chose to save the couple, saying: ‘First of all I want to say that both couples did really well, for me also the technical aspect was very important, so I’m going to save Fleur and Vito. ‘

Anton said: ‘Anyway I want to congratulate both couples for getting this far in the competition. Both danced fiercely.

‘I thought Ellie did a great job in Your Jive. And Fleur I thought your technique was strong and your performance was powerful, and I want to save Fleur and Vito.’

With three votes to Flair and Vito, this meant that they had won the majority vote and would remain in the competition, although head judge Shirley Ballas stated that she too would have decided to save Flair and Vito.

She said: ‘Both couples danced exceptionally well but on this occasion, due to the merits of technique, I would have saved Fleur and Vito.’

Asked by host Tess Daly if it was everything she expected, Ellie said: ‘It’s happened and it’s happened, I’m going to be a cliché machine now, but it’s everything and more It is done. I never in a million years expected to live so long and experience it to the fullest.

‘is strictly about the dancing, but it’s also about the people, and every part of the show from top to bottom, from the execution to the makeup, from the hair to the costumes, from the set to the band, to my partner Celebs and dancers – even some of the judges have been okay! It is an absolute privilege to be a part of Strictly Alumni and I really enjoy it.’

When asked about her special relationship with Johannes, Ellie said: ‘We have a lot of fun. And to borrow an Anton-ism, let me refer you to Johannes Radebe. You [Johannes] You are as wonderful as everyone said you would be, and I have said you are like human sunshine and you really are.

‘You see people and you have seen me at every point. I’m so anxious and out of my comfort zone and so self-conscious and so awkward and you said ’embrace your weird elle’. You have done it with all your heart and without any judgement.

‘It’s a privilege to dance with you Jojo, I don’t know what’s going on in your body but it’s not blood, it’s rhythm and it’s music, and it’s incredible to watch you perform.’

Asked if he had any words for his partner, Johannes said: ‘Oh my God – it’s a joy, a treasure, it’s our thing. Ellie Taylor, moving on, embrace your weirdness! Embrace your long limbs, because you are a beautiful person. So thank you for everything, you know my heart, thank you.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Friday nights at 8pm on BBC One.