Strictly Come Dancing fans fumed ‘what is the point’ as Hollywood star Cynthia Erivo landed a mentor role on the show on Saturday night.
The British West End star, 38, previously joined the show as a guest judge in 2021, and appeared once again as part of Movie Week on Saturday.
The show featured a Wicked-themed routine by the professional dancers, ahead of the release of the second film based on the musical of the same name.
Wicked: For Good, will see Cynthia and Ariana Grande reprise their roles as Elphaba and Glinda, and is set to be released in cinemas on November 21.
Cynthia worked as a mentor with the couples before their Movie Week routines, and then joined the judges to share feedback following the performances.
However at the start of the show Tess clarified that Cynthia would not be scoring the celebrities and their professional partners after their performances but simply offering her expert opinions on the routines.
Strictly Come Dancing fans fumed ‘what is the point’ as Hollywood star Cynthia Erivo landed a mentor role on the show on Saturday night
The British West End star, 38, previously joined the show as a guest judge in 2021, and appeared once again as part of Movie Week on Saturday where she sat with the other judges
Fans took to X with confusion saying she should have voted too as it seemed pointless.
They wrote: ‘What is the point of Cynthia being at the judges desk if she isn’t scoring? She could’ve been in the audience.’,
‘Cynthia should’ve been allowed to score the dances, by doing so, it would’ve allowed the couples to gain extra points.’,
‘Cynthia Erivo having to sit there like a lemon while the Judges score because it’s only mild celebrity that’s entitled her to be there.’,
‘It’s so weird to have Cynthia just sitting in the middle of the Judges’ table and not have her scoring anything.’,
‘What is Cynthia actually doing there if she can’t vote?’,
‘So according to Shirley, Cynthia has spent loads of time mentoring this week….but she hasn’t been given paddles.’
Cynthia received praise from viewers after her guest appearance in 2011 and memorably gave her comments to Rose Ayling-Ellis in British Sign Language.
Fans took to X with confusion saying she should have voted too as it seemed pointless otherwise
At the start of the show Tess clarified that Cynthia would not be scoring the celebrities and their professional partners after their performances
Movie Week saw the Strictly Professional Dancers perform a Wicked themed group dance, to the emotional, fan-favourite duet As Long As You’re Mine.
Lewis Cope kicked off Saturday night’s Strictly with a power paso doble and received his first 10 from judge Motsi Mabuse.
The actor and his pro partner Katya Jones earned the highest score of the series, an incredible 37 points, for their spicy performance to The Plaza of Execution from The Mask of Zorro.
Amber Davies and her partner Nikita Kuzmin placed second on the leaderboard, 35 points, with head judge Shirley Ballas applauding the pair’s ‘exquisite’ performance.
The West End star admitted her ‘dreams came true’ tonight as her icon Cynthia guest mentored for movie week.
Fans fumed after the show finished as they expected the singer to perform a hit from the Wicked soundtrack ahead of the second movie release.
Former Love Island star Amber – who has faced backlash for her dancing background – was delighted by her score as she jumped for joy with Nikita.
For this year’s fan-favourite Movie Week, stars dressed up as the likes of Thunderbolts, Barbie, The Bird Woman and The Sound Of Music.
Strictly professionals took to the floor with a dance dedicated to the story of long-running stage show and Hollywood blockbuster film Wicked.
The professional dancers dressed up in fantastical costumes as part of the story-telling dance number.
The female stars dressed up in all-black like the film’s Wicked Witch of the West, as Elphaba Thropp, and the men portrayed Prince Fiyero.
She is pictured on the show in 2021 when she was also a guest judge
The routine, choreographed by Jason Gilkinson, celebrated the franchise’s second film, Wicked: For Good.
Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova came back fighting this week after facing the dance off last weekend.
His Paso Doble to Sweet Child O’Mine from Thor: Love and Thunder saw him score his best yet, 22 points.
George Clarke and his American pro Alexis Warr’s couple choice bagged them an amazing 31 points for their K-pop hip hop dance.
La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec slowed things down this week with a Waltz to Feed the Birds (Tuppence A Bag) from Mary Poppins.
Ross King was praised for his improved moves and confidence for his paso doble. He and Jowita Przystał earned 19 points.
EastEnders actor Balvinder Sopal and Australian pro Julian Caillon performed a Foxtrot to The Way You Look Tonight from Swing Time.
After their show-stopping dance last week, the couple earned a deserving 26 points this week.
Karen Carney’s delivered a dazzling Cha Cha Cha to She’s a Lady from Miss Congeniality. They scored 25 points.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and his partner Lauren Oakley channelled 007 for the first rumba of the series.
They wowed the judges with the incredible performance to No Time to Die from James Bond, scoring 28.
Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington was given her best score yet, 25 points, for her Charleston.
Meanwhile, Ellie Goldstein and her pro partner Vito Coppola stunned the judges with their samba in their Barbie outfits, scoring them an incredible 27 points.
Alex Kingston channelled Meryl Streep’s iconic Miranda Priestley, in a nod to Devil Wears Prada 2, for a spicy quickstep to Suddenly I See, scoring an incredible 30 points.
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, aka Nitro from Gladiators, and partner Karen Hauer scored 32 points, their best yet.
Shirley Ballas was left blushing on Saturday night after Harry turned up the heat with a sizzling shirtless salsa.
Shirley, 65, couldn’t help but swoon over Harry’s muscular physique, calling him ‘extraordinary in every department’.
She gushed: ‘You are the man with the million-dollar smile, for sure. You got hold of Karen and you chucked her so fast over, it’s a good job she can control it.
Lewis Cope kicked off Saturday night’s Strictly with a power paso doble and received his first 10 from judge Motsi Mabuse
‘I mean, you just picked her up like it was just you know, a piece of ribbon or something.
‘It was extraordinary, it was fantastic. Your leading skills, now you’re starting to learn how to lead Karen, that was great.
Shirley then shimmied her shoulders as she added: ‘Your solo parts are down and groovy, and rock and roll and that little shake on the pecs when it went forward like that.
Emphasising her eyes, she went on: ‘Well, he decided not to wear the shirt, and I mean the pecks were going.
‘I mean to say you’re just going from strength to strength, but you are quite extraordinary in every department.
As the audience and fellow judges hollered with laughter and cheers, she exclaimed: ‘Oh, I’m blushing.’
STRICTLY LINEUP 2025
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
Age: 36
Profession: Olympic Sprinter and Gladiator
Harry says: ‘I’ll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor. Let’s hope I’m as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track.’
Alex Kingston
Age: 62
Profession: Doctor Who actress
The actress teases: ‘My hips don’t lie.’
Balvinder Sopal
Age: 46
Profession: EastEnders actress
Balvinder says: ‘I’m far too excited to put into words how I feel but I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom.’
La Voix
Age: 45
Profession: Drag performer
She says: ‘Strictly is a national institution and I can’t wait to get started. All that’s left to say is: good luck to my partner! Here’s hoping they can help me go from La Voix into La Danse.’
Thomas Skinner
Age: 34
Profession: Reality star and entrepreneur
He says: ‘Bring on the sequins, sambas and most importantly, the BOSH to the ballroom!’
Vicky Pattison
Age: 37
Profession: Reality TV star
She says: ‘I’m absolutely buzzing to be part of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line-up… but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified.’
Karen Carney
Age: 38
Profession: Football pundit
She says: ‘I’m such a huge fan of the show and I can’t believe I’m finally getting the chance to take part.’
George Clark
Age: 25
Profession: YouTuber
He says: ‘Never thought I’d say this… but I’m doing Strictly! Honestly, I’ve got no idea what I’m doing but I’m excited to get stuck in … and potentially fall over a fair bit.’
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Age: 53
Profession: Former Chelsea and Netherlands striker and ex-England coach.
He says: ‘Swapping the pitch for the ballroom is certainly not something I’ve done before but I’m looking forward to tackling a fun challenge! Bring on a new type of footwork, with hopefully no own goals.’
Ellie Goldstein
Age: 23
Profession: Model, influencer and disability ambassador
She says: ‘It’s a show I’ve loved watching for so long, and the chance to now be part of it feels like a dream’.
Chris Robshaw
Age: 39
Profession: Rugby player
He says: ‘This is about as far out of my comfort zone as it gets! I’m hoping to take my dad-dancing to a whole new level, and my mum can’t wait to drag me along to her Zumba class’.
Stefan Dennis
Age: 66
Profession: Actor
He says: ‘Looking forward to the sparkle and reaching for the sky.’
Ross King
Age: 63
Profession: Showbiz correspondent
He says: ‘I can’t wait to learn from the best, meet my fellow contestants, and, most importantly… try not to step on too many toes!’
Lewis Cope
Age: 30
Profession: Actor
He says: ‘I’m so excited to be swapping the Dales for the dance floor and joining this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.’
Amber Davies
Age: 28
Profession: West End star
She says: ‘This has been the craziest 24 hours of my life. I’ve watched Strictly with my family since I was younger and to now be part of the show is a dream come true.’
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