Cynthia Erivo returning to Strictly Come Dancing
Cynthia Erivo - who previously became a guest judge on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 - is returning to the BBC's Latin and ballroom dance show on October 11 to mentor the couples before their Movie Week routines, and she will also become a guest judge during the blockbuster week.
Cynthia Erivo is returning to Strictly Come Dancing as the show's first guest mentor.
The 38-year-old actress is set to appear on the BBC Latin and ballroom dance show as part of Movies Week on October 11, where she will work with the celebrities taking part in the programme and their professional dance partners before their blockbuster-inspired routines, and will then join judges Craig Revel Horwood, 60, Motsi Mabuse, 44, Shirley Ballas, 65, and Anton Du Beke, 59, to give feedback and scores following the performances.
Speaking of Cynthia - who was a stand-in judge on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 - a source told The Sun newspaper: "Strictly wanted to sprinkle some real Hollywood magic on to Movie Week and have Cynthia coming on board to help train the stars.
"She’ll be working with all the celebrities in the rehearsal rooms in the lead-up, then will be live in the Strictly studio to give her feedback on their routines."
And if Cynthia - who played witch Elphaba in the hit 2024 movie Wicked, and 2025's Wicked: For Good, which comes out in November - is successful in her stint, more big-name stars could have guest mentor roles on Strictly Come Dancing in the future.
The source continued: "If it’s a success, they hope that this will pave the way for more big-name stars to have guest mentor roles on the show."
The Sun also reports that Strictly Come Dancing's professional dancers will perform a routine that pays tribute to Wicked - the highest-grossing film adaptation of a musical, making over £565million globally - during the show.
September 27 marked the first live show of the programme's new series.
Former England women's football player Karen Carney, 38, roared to the top of the leaderboard with her professional dance partner Carlos Gu, 32, after their jive to One Way or Another by Blondie blew away the judges, who scored them 31 points.
Sadly, it was not a good first night's work for 63 year old Ross King - Lorraine and Good Morning Britain's Los Angeles Correspondent - and his professional dance partner, Jowita Przystal, 31, who were at the bottom of the leaderboard.
Their Cha Cha to California Girls by Katy Perry, 40, did not impress the judges, resulting in them earning 10 points.
