Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Goldstein is due to appear on television tonight following rumours she has left the show.
Ellie has been at the centre of widespread whispers that she has quit Strictly following her Icons Week performance.
The model and actress, 23, performed a Salsa to a Spice Girls medley and escaped the dreaded dance-off.
But since then, both Ellie and 33-year-old Vito have gone noticeably quiet on their Instagram Stories. The pair usually update fans from the training room and share fun clips of themselves eating their snacks and lunch together.
Tonight, however, the pair are due to make an appearance on spin-off show, Strictly: It Takes Two.
At the end of Monday evening’s show, host Fleur East said: “I’m back tomorrow with Neil Jones in Choreography Corner. I’ll also be joined by dance-off survivors Amber and Nikita along with Ellie and Vito, who will be revealing more about their Halloween dances.”
Strictly’s Craig ignores rumours about Ellie ‘leaving’
Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood also brushed off the rumours earlier in the BBC Two companion programme.
Craig appeared on the sofa to give his thoughts on the remaining couples in the competition. He told Fleur what he hopes to see from each of the celebrities as the series continues – including from Ellie, who has Down syndrome.
Speaking about Ellie, the judge said to Fleur: “I am hoping to see a little more in the technique department. I would like to see her try and use her legs and her feet better. If possible, I would like to see her get a little bit more onto the toe on certain dances.
“She can get the dance really, really well. She is great at remembering all her steps. I know she’s got a very high kick, darling, which she loves showing off. She keeps flashing that leg around!”
Craig added: “She’s got all of that, she’s got all the personality, she’s got the courage and the bravery. It takes a lot of courage to come on this show and do what everyone is doing. But I would just like to see her nail a little bit more of the technique now.”
Ellie Goldstein’s clap back at criticism
Although there hasn’t been any content from the training room, Ellie has shared one post on her Instagram Stories that speaks a thousand words. It comes after criticism from some fans that the judges are going too easy on her.
The message she shared had been posted by an account called Strictly_Reactions. It read: “I am so sick of the criticism around Ellie! I totally agree with the judges! Ellie has no fear or nerves on the dance floor!
“She gives it all and 1000000% deserves her place in the competition! Again someone learning dance and improving every week! Don’t blame Ellie because others are leaving!”
Ellie simply commented: “Thank you @strictly_reactions.”
On Saturday night, Ellie channelled her inner Emma Bunton – aka Baby Spice – for Icons Week. They ended the night with the same score as three other couples. Ellie and Vito, Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon, and La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec all scored 28.
This placed all four pairs second from bottom in the Strictly leaderboard.
Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were in the dance-off, despite finishing the night in second place. They were up against Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley, who were sent home unanimously by the judges.
TVGuide has contacted the BBC for comment on the rumours surrounding Ellie.
