Multi award-winning singer and actor Cynthia Erivo will serve as a guest judge on Strictly Come Dancing for Musicals Week, stepping in for Craig Revel Horwood, who is self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19. The London-born star will join Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Head Judge Shirley Ballas on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 November.
Erivo has an extensive theatre background, including Broadway's revival of The Colour Purple, the Sister Act UK Tour, and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. She also played Aretha Franklin in the third series of Genius, the title role in the biopic Harriet, and is currently filming for the new Luther movie. She will star as Elphaba in the upcoming film adaptation of Wicked.
Erivo has won a Daytime Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award, and has been nominated for two Oscars. She expressed her delight at joining the panel, saying, '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.'
Strictly Come Dancing Musicals Week will see the remaining couples perform routines to showtunes from beloved musicals. The show airs on Saturday 20 November at 6.35pm, with the results show on Sunday 21 November at 7.15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
