Unfortunately, however, it was the end of the road for Tom Fletcher, who became the eighth contestant to be eliminated from Strictly<\/a> \u2013 something which didn\u2019t sit right with many fans.<\/p>\n In a RadioTimes.com<\/a> poll, 67 per cent of fans said the wrong person went home as Tom Fletcher exited the series<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here, our columnist and former Strictly pro Ian Waite gives his thoughts on Saturday night\u2019s show, Tom\u2019s exit and shares some advice for the contestants as we approach the Strictly Come Dancing final.<\/p>\n Musicals Week had a fantabulous, cabaret opening to the show from all our wonderful pros. Unfortunately, Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood tested positive for COVID-19<\/a>, so replacing him this week was musical theatre legend Cynthia Erivo<\/a>! She was a fantastic addition to the judging panel and her experience in musical theatre was perfect for that week. I think that she fitted in and she gave us a lot of sort of outside knowledge that we wouldn\u2019t necessarily have. Cynthia used sign language to communicate with Rose, which shows that she does her homework and she wants to do a good job. I was I was really impressed with the fact that she learned sign language to express what she was trying to say to Rose.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to say my Strictly highlight of the week was the wonderful Wicked group dance at the beginning of the result show. In a word it was spectacular. Led by Luba [Mushtuk] and Katya [Jones], this performance transported me to another world!\u201d<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t really have a low this week, to be honest. I love musicals \u2013 it\u2019s my favourite! Maybe Tom leaving. I was sad to see Tom go because I thought he\u2019d be a potential finalist.<\/p>\n \u201cI would say: expression, expression, expression! Start to express your emotions through your face and through your body because this is going to come across to the judges and to the people at home!\u201d<\/p>\n Tilly scored a perfect 40 this week, after being in the dance-off twice \u2013 were you surprised by this score?<\/strong><\/p>\n I thought this was absolutely perfect for her. It just suited them as a couple and it was the right genre. It was obviously couple\u2019s choice, so they got to do whatever they wanted to do and you know, I felt watching them that I was actually in that musical, watching every step. I was totally convinced and the technique was great also. So for me, I\u2019m not surprised it got four 10s. This was the perfect dance for them to get four 10s, because it was the perfect match!<\/p>\n Did you expect to see Rhys in the bottom two, considering how well he\u2019s been doing recently?<\/strong><\/p>\n No, I didn\u2019t expect to see them in the bottom two, but I did think that some of the technique needs work. I do always feel like that with Rhys that he\u2019s full of energy, but it\u2019s controlling and harnessing that energy and creating the perfect technique is always a difficult thing with him. I think in the dance-off it was very difficult to compare such different genres of dance \u2013 Rhys and Nancy with a high energy jive and Tom and Amy with an emotional lyrical contemporary number. For me Rhys and Nancy had the edge, power and determination.<\/p>\n As we get closer to the final, do you have any predictions, and who do you think needs to brush up?<\/strong><\/p>\n Well, you know I\u2019m a massive fan of Rose. I think she\u2019s so endearing and for me, she\u2019ll definitely be in the final. I love her relationship with Giovanni. I think they have a really special bond and the way they communicate is really lovely to watch. I think also John and Johannes are a great team. I do think that John is sort of coasting a little bit at the moment and I\u2019d like to see him push himself out of his boundaries and see him out of his comfort zone if you\u2019d like. Also, AJ\u00a0 \u2013 just technically she\u2019s so good. She\u2019s been taught so well and she\u2019s just gorgeous to watch, so for me she\u2019s one to look out for. The ones who need to pick it up, it\u2019s difficult because they change weekly, so I would have said Dan, but Dan had his best dance this week and I would have said Tilly, but she had her best dance this week. So it\u2019s very difficult to say. They are all stepping up to the plate to keep themselves in so it\u2019s great to see.<\/p> \u201cSo I\u2019m in the last week of my tour for 2021 \u2013 The Ballroom Boys with Vincent Simone, and it\u2019s been an absolutely wonderful seven weeks on tour. We\u2019ve done over over 50 shows and we\u2019ve got another 50 shows next year starting in April. But it\u2019s been great to see all the wonderful audiences around the country and it\u2019s just been a pleasure to work with Vincent again, who is my gorgeous friend.<\/p>\n \u201cWe try and go out before we do the last show for a meal together with the whole cast. Later this week, I\u2019ll just walk the dogs and I\u2019m looking forward to December, to start getting Christmassy again. I love it when the decorations go up. I can\u2019t wait!\u201d<\/p>\n Strictly Come Dancing airs every weekend on BBC One. Want something else to watch? Check out our full\u00a0TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0or visit our\u00a0Entertainment<\/a>\u00a0hub for the latest news.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nIan on Saturday\u2019s show<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\""Cynthia\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/cynthia-erivo-strictly-sign-language-4c56e87.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"cynthia-erivo-strictly-sign-language\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>How did the Strictly couples do this week?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Strictly High of The Week<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Strictly Low of The Week<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\""Tom\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/tom-fletcher-strictly-musicals-week-697b09f-e1637596589801.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"tom-fletcher-strictly-musicals-week\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Ian\u2019s Top Tip<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Ian answers\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Waite\u2019s Week<\/strong><\/h2>\n