Series 19

## Series Chronology

Strictly's **nineteenth series** commenced with a launch show on 18th September 2021, with the live shows commencing on 25th September.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman returned to host the main show. Rylan Clark-Neal returned to host *It Takes Two*, and was joined by Janette Manrara, after Zoe Ball announced her departure from the show.

Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas returned to the judging panel, joined by original professional Anton du Beke, who served as a guest judge during the previous series. Du Beke would join the panel, replacing Bruno Tonioli, who did not return due to travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The series was won by *EastEnders* actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, and her partner Giovanni Pernice.

## Development

In July 2021, producers announced that *Strictly* would return with a full-length series, with 15 celebrities, themed weeks, pre-recorded professional group dances, but would not have a Blackpool Week special.

The couples were no longer restricted to perform contemporary, theatre/jazz or street/commercial for their Couple's Choice, and could instead perform however they wished.

The series featured the first deaf contestant, and the first all-male partnership.

## Professionals

In March, the BBC announced all sixteen professionals from the previous series would return. However in June, it was revealed that Janette Manrara and Anton du Beke would not return in their dancing roles; Manrara moved to the *It Takes Two* family to replace Zoe Ball, co-presenting the show alongside Rylan Clark-Neal, and Du Beke replaced Bruno Tonioli on the judging panel.

In July, four new professionals were revealed to join the fourteen returning pros, from six-time Italian Latin & Ballroom Champion Nikita Kuzmin; reigning South-African Latin champ, Cameron Lombard; Polish Open Latin Champ & former *The Greatest Dancer* Champion, Jowita Prystał; and World Junior Latin American Champion, Kai Widdrington.

Graziano Di Prima, Neil Jones, Nadiya Bychkova, Nancy Xu and new professionals, Nikita Kuzmin and Kai Widdrington received a celebrity partner this series, while Luba Mushtuk and other new professionals, Cameron Lombard and Jowita Prystał did not receive a partner, but featured in the professional group dances.

## Couples

On August 4th 2021, McFly singer Tom Fletcher, comedian Robert Webb and television presenter AJ Odudu were revealed as the first three celebrities participating in the series. The next day, chef John Whaite was revealed to join the series, and would feature in the show's first all male same-sex couple, following Nicola & Katya were the show's first all female couple in Series 18.

As with previous series, celebrity contestants continued to be revealed until 13th August, when the full lineup was revealed.

## Scoring Chart

*Red numbers*  indicate the couples with the lowest score for each week.
Green numbers  indicate the couples with the highest score for each week.
"-" indicates the couple(s) that did not dance that week.
     indicates the couple that was eliminated that week.
     indicates the couple who was in the bottom two but was not eliminated.
     indicates the couple withdrew from the competition that week.
     indicates the winning couple.
     indicates the runner-up couple.
     indicates the third place couple.
### Average Chart

*This table only counts dances scored on a 40-point scale.*

## Dance Scoring

### Highest and Lowest Scoring Performance

* *The best and worst performances in each dance style, according to the judges' 40-point scale.*

### Couples' Highest and Lowest Scoring Dances

*The highest and lowest performances of each couple during the series.*

## Weekly Scores

*Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton du Beke.*

### Launch Show

* *Featuring musical guest, Anne-Marie, with a performance of her song, "Kiss My (Uh-Oh)"*

### Week 2

* *Featuring musical guests, Tom Grennan, with a performance of his song "Something Better", and Griff, with a performance of "One Night".*
* Due to testing positive for COVID-19, Tom & Amy were unable to perform. The producers gave them a bye to the following week.

**Dance Off:** Katie & Gorka, Nina & Neil

*Judges' votes to save: (in event of tie, Ballas, as Head Judge, has deciding vote)*

* Horwood: Katie & Gorka
* Mabuse: Katie & Gorka
* Du Beke: Nina & Neil
* Ballas: Katie & Gorka

**Eliminated Couple**: Nina & Neil

### Week 3: Movie Week

* *Featuring musical guest, Ben Platt, with a performance of "You Will Be Found" from Everybody's Talking About Jamie.*

**Dance Off:** Judi & Graziano, Katie & Gorka

*Judges' votes to save: (in event of tie, Ballas, as Head Judge, has deciding vote)*

* Horwood: Judi & Graziano
* Mabuse: Judi & Graziano
* Du Beke: David & Nadiya
* Ballas: Judi & Graziano

**Eliminated Couple**: Katie & Gorka

### Week 4

* *Featuring musical guest, Westlife, with a performance of their song, "Starlight".*
* Due to sustaining a back injury, Ugo could not perform this week. The producers gave him and Oti a bye to the following week.
* Due to ill health, Robert & Dianne had to withdraw earlier in the week.

**Dance Off:** Judi & Graziano, Greg & Karen

*Judges' votes to save: (in event of tie, Ballas, as Head Judge, has deciding vote)*

* Horwood: Judi & Graziano
* Mabuse: Judi & Graziano
* Du Beke: Judi & Graziano
* Ballas: *did not vote, but would have saved Greg & Karen*

**Eliminated Couple**: Greg & Karen

### Week 5

* *Featuring musical guests, Craig David & MNEK, with a performance of their song, "Who You Are".*
* Due to Judi testing positive for COVID-19, Judi & Graziano were unable to perform. The producers gave them a bye to the following week.

**Dance Off:** Ugo & Oti, Rhys & Nancy

*Judges' votes to save: (in event of tie, Ballas, as Head Judge, has deciding vote)*

* Horwood: Rhys & Nancy
* Mabuse: Rhys & Nancy
* Du Beke: Rhys & Nancy
* Ballas: *did not vote, but would have saved Rhys & Nancy*

**Eliminated Couple**: Ugo & Oti

### Week 6: Halloween Week

* *Featuring musical guests, Gregory Porter, with a performance of his song, "Dry Bones".*

**Dance Off:** Adam & Katya, Judi & Graziano

*Judges' votes to save: (in event of tie, Ballas, as Head Judge, has deciding vote)*

* Horwood: Adam & Katya
* Mabuse: Adam & Katya
* Du Beke: Adam & Katya
* Ballas: *did not vote, but would have saved Adam & Katya*

**Eliminated Couple**: Judi & Graziano

### Week 7

* *Featuring musical guests, The Script, with a performance of their song, "Superheroes".*

**Dance Off:** Adam & Katya, Tilly & Nikita

*Judges' votes to save: (in event of tie, Ballas, as Head Judge, has deciding vote)*

* Horwood: Tilly & Nikita
* Mabuse: Tilly & Nikita
* Du Beke: Tilly & Nikita
* Ballas: *did not vote, but would have saved Adam & Katya*

**Eliminated Couple**: Adam & Katya

### Week 8

* *Featuring musical guest, James Blunt, with a performance of his song, "Goodbye My Lover".*

**Dance Off:** Tilly & Nikita, Sara & Aljaž

*Judges' votes to save: (in event of tie, Ballas, as Head Judge, has deciding vote)*

* Horwood: Tilly & Nikita
* Mabuse: Tilly & Nikita
* Du Beke: Tilly & Nikita
* Ballas: *did not vote, but would have saved Tilly & Nikita*

**Eliminated Couple**: Sara & Aljaž

### Week 9: Musicals Week

*Individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Cynthia Erivo, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton du Beke.*

* *Featuring musical guests, Max Harwood & The Feeling, with a performance of "Out of the Darkness (A Place Where We Belong)" from Everybody's Talking About Jamie.*
* Due to Craig testing positive for COVID-19, Broadway star Cynthia Erivo filled in for Horwood, as guest judge this week.

**Dance Off:** Rhys & Nancy, Tom & Amy

*Judges' votes to save: (in event of tie, Ballas, as Head Judge, has deciding vote)*

* Erivo: Rhys & Nancy
* Mabuse: Rhys & Nancy
* Du Beke: Rhys & Nancy
* Ballas: *did not vote, but would have saved Rhys & Nancy*

**Eliminated Couple**: Tom & Amy

### Week 10

*Individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Cynthia Erivo, Shirley Ballas, Anton du Beke.*

* *Featuring musical guests, Years & Years, with a performance of "Sweet Talker".*
* Due to Motsi testing positive for COVID-19, Cynthia Erivo returned to fill in as guest judge, replacing Mabuse for this week.

**Dance Off:** Rhys & Nancy, Tilly & Nikita

*Judges' votes to save: (in event of tie, Ballas, as Head Judge, has deciding vote)*

* Horwood: Rhys & Nancy
* Erivo: Rhys & Nancy
* Du Beke: Rhys & Nancy
* Ballas: *did not vote, but would have saved Rhys & Nancy*

**Eliminated Couple**: Tilly & Nikita

### Week 11: Quarter-Final

* *Featuring musical guests, JLS, with a performance of "Postcard".*

**Dance Off:** Dan & Nadiya, AJ & Kai

*Judges' votes to save: (in event of tie, Ballas, as Head Judge, has deciding vote)*

* Horwood: AJ & Kai
* Erivo: AJ & Kai
* Du Beke: AJ & Kai
* Ballas: *did not vote, but would have saved AJ & Kai*

**Eliminated Couple**: Dan & Nadiya

### Week 12: Semi-Final

**Dance Off:** Rhys & Nancy, John & Johannes

* *For the Dance Off, Rhys & Nancy chose their Samba, and John & Johannes chose their Jive.*

*Judges' votes to save: (in event of tie, Ballas, as Head Judge, has deciding vote)*

* Horwood: John & Johannes
* Mabuse: John & Johannes
* Tonioli: John & Johannes
* Ballas: *did not vote, but would have saved John & Johannes*

**Eliminated Couple**: Rhys & Nancy

### Week 13: Final

* Unfortunately, due to suffering ligament damage in her ankle, AJ & Kai had to withdraw ahead of the Final.

**Strictly Champions**: Rose & Giovanni

## Series Trivia

* Ayling-Ellis was the first deaf contestant to appear, and to win the show.
* Whaite featured in the show's first male same-sex partnership.