Cynthia Erivo to be guest judge on Strictly

Posted on November 19, 2021

Singer and actor Cynthia Erivo will join the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel as a guest judge this weekend. Cynthia will be stepping in to the shoes of Craig Revel Horwood, who will sadly miss Musicals Week as he self-isolates after testing positive for COVID-19. Cynthia will join Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and head judge Shirley Ballas on Saturday and Sunday, November 20-21. 

London-born Erivo has starred in numerous theatre productions across the globe, including Broadway’s revival of The Colour Purple, the Sister Act UK Tour and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. She played the lead role of Aretha Franklin in the third series of Genius, the title role in acclaimed biopic Harriet,  is currently filming for the new Luther movie and will star as Elphaba in the upcoming film adaptation of musical, Wicked. She has won a Daytime Emmy Award, Grammy Award and Tony Award, and been nominated for two Academy Awards. 

Erivo said: “I’m so delighted to be joining the Strictly judging panel for Musicals Week. Musicals have a unique place in my heart, it’s such a special way of connecting all art and making it one. I’m excited to bring my experience to the show and I can’t wait to see what the couples have in store this weekend.”

Musicals Week will see the remaining couples perform routines live to showtunes from some of the best loved musicals. Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, November 20 at 6.35pm, with the results show on Sunday, November 21 at 7.15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. 

Pictured: Cynthia Erivo. Photograph: Courtesy of the BBC. 

Nicola Rayner

Nicola Rayner was editor of Dance Today from 2010 to 2015. She has written for a number of publications including The Guardian, The Independent and Time Out Buenos Aires, where she cut her teeth as a dance journalist working on the tango section. Today she continues to dance everything from ballroom to breakdance, with varying degrees of success. Her debut novel, The Girl Before You, was published last year in paperback, ebook and audiobook.

Nicola Rayner

Nicola Rayner was editor of Dance Today from 2010 to 2015. She has written for a number of publications including The Guardian, The Independent and Time Out Buenos Aires, where she cut her teeth as a dance journalist working on the tango section. Today she continues to dance everything from ballroom to breakdance, with varying degrees of success. Her debut novel, The Girl Before You, was published last year in paperback, ebook and audiobook.