Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Strictly Come Dancing 2021: Nina Wadia is the first celebrity to be eliminated

It was the battle of the soap stars in the dance-off

Ellie Harrison
Sunday 03 October 2021 21:01 BST
Comments
Weekend Update Pays Tribute to Norm Macdonald - SNL_11.mp4

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Strictly Come Dancing has eliminated its first contestant of the 2021 series: Nina Wadia.

After facing Coronation Street actor Katie McGlynn in the dreaded dance-off, EastEnders star Wadia became the first celebrity to get booted off the show.

Both couples performed their routines again, with Wadia and her dance partner Neil Jones performing their Tango to “Would I Lie To You?” by Eurythmics and McGlynn and her pro dancer Gorka Marquez doing their Jive to “Good 4 U” by Olivia Rodrigo.

Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas all chose to save McGlynn and Marquez, while Anton Du Beke preferred Wadia and Jones’s performance.

He said: “This is exactly how you want a dance off to be. You want to do your best performance and I think you both did. This is the best you’ve done both dances. The one who upped their game and performed the best I think was Nina and Neil.”

When asked by presenter Tess Daly about their time on the show, Wadia said: “It’s been really fun, thank you so much. [Neil] is incredible, thank you.”

Nina Wadia and Neil Jones on ‘Strictly’
Nina Wadia and Neil Jones on ‘Strictly’ (BBC)

Jones was then asked if he had any words for Wadia, and he said: “You’ve been a dream. Second partner on the show for me. I wouldn’t have wanted anybody else. You’ve been fantastic and so much fun. Literally, we’re like a married couple – you’ve got both husbands here tonight!

“It’s been so much fun together, you said you wanted to dance and you’ve done two fantastic dances and I’m really, really, really proud of you.”

The remaining fourteen couples will take to the dancefloor next week in a Movie Week Special when Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday 9 October at 6.45pm with the results show on Sunday 10 October at 7.10pm on BBC One.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in