Tony Award-winner Cynthia Erivo (Wicked, Dracula, The Color Purple) is returning to Strictly Come Dancing tonight, 11 October 2025.
The star of blockbuster movies Wicked and forthcoming Wicked: For Good, is back on the show for Movie Week.
Cynthia will be Strictly’s first ever Guest Mentor, helping the 14 remaining contestants to unleash their inner movie star, coaching them through rehearsals and into the studio on Saturday night.
Tonight, Cynthia will also appear on the show alongside the judges, and watch the Strictly Professionals perform a Wicked-themed dance to As Long As You’re Mine, choreographed by Jason Gilkinson.
Cynthia performs As Long As You’re Mine as Elphaba in new Wicked movie Wicked: For Good, which is out in cinemas on 21 November 2025.
She was a Guest Judge on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 for two weeks, covering for Craig and Motsi.
The Pros have been rehearsing all week for the big number, which will see the female stars dressed up all in black like the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba Thropp, played by Cynthia Erivo in the movies; and the men will portray Prince Fiyero, played by Jonathan Bailey in the blockbuster films.
The BBC put out a statement about this week’s show saying: “The red carpet is rolled out for the first theme week of the series; it’s Movie Night in the ballroom. Something wicked comes this way, as our pros pay homage to one of the highest-grossing movie musicals of all time, before our couples perform routines celebrating some of the best-loved films from across cinema history. As they do their best to impress the Judges and you at home, Academy Award-nominated, Hollywood superstar, Cynthia Erivo is on hand to help our couples deliver blockbuster performances.”
On Sunday’s results show, the professionals will transport audiences to the Minecraft universe, and pianist Lang Lang will perform a Disney classic.
Cynthia was nominated for an Oscar for the first Wicked movie, and it was revealed yesterday that she will be put forward in the Best Actress category next year for her work on Wicked: For Good. Her co-star Ariana Grande is going to be put up for the Best Supporting gongs.
Cynthia Erivo is also returning to the West End stage next year, starring in Kip Williams’ new adaptation of Dracula, in a one-person show at the Noel Coward Theatre from 4 February 2026.
Wicked is now playing live on stage at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London’s West End – BOOK TICKETS >
Movie Week – Dances and songs
La Voix & Aljaž
Waltz to Feed The Birds from Mary Poppins
Amber & Nikita
American Smooth to Sixteen Going On Seventeen from The Sound Of Music
Ellie & Vito
Samba to Dance The Night from Barbie
Lewis & Katya
Paso Doble to The Plaza Of Execution by The Mask Of Zorro
Vicky & Kai
Charleston to A Little Party Never Killed Nobody from The Great Gatsby
Harry & Karen
Salsa to I Always Wanted A Brother from Mufasa: The Lion King
Alex & Johannes
Quickstep to Suddenly I See from The Devil Wears Prada
Ross & Jowita
Paso Doble to Thunderbirds Theme from Thunderbirds
George & Alexis
Couple’s Choice to Soda Pop by KPop Demon Hunters
Karen & Carlos
Cha Cha to She’s A Lady from Miss Congeniality
Chris & Nadiya
Paso Doble to Sweet Child O’Mine from Thor
Balvinder & Julian
Foxtrot to The Way You Look Tonight from Swing Time
Jimmy & Lauren
Samba to No Time To Die from James Bond
Stefan & Dianne
Stefan Dennis not performing due to illness
Stefan Dennis pulls out of show
In news on Friday (10 October 2025), the BBC announced that Neighbours star Stefan Dennis was pulling out of this weekend’s Movie Week shows due to illness.
A statement said: “Due to illness over the past few days. Stefan Dennis has been advised by doctors to rest and, as a result, he will not dance this weekend. In line with the rules of Strictly, Stefan and Dianne will receive a bye through to next week when they will hopefully be able to dance again.”
Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin
West End star Amber Davies joined Strictly Come Dancing two weeks ago, replacing Dani Dyer who had to pull out of the entertainment show with a broken ankle.
Amber is dancing with Nikita Kuzmin in the show. For Movie Week, the pair will dance an American Smooth to Sixteen Going On Seventeen from The Sound Of Music.
Amber Davies (The Great Gatsby, Back to the Future) was recently named the star of a new UK and Ireland tour of Legally Blonde.
Nikita announced last week that he is set to star in a major new dance show Burn the Floor: Supernova, touring the UK next summer.
Strictly on Stage
The new Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour, featuring judges from the show and celebrity contestants, is now on sale, for its February 2025 tour.
As is the Strictly The Professionals UK Tour featuring 11 of the Strictly pros, Julian Caillon, Vito Coppola, Neil Jones, Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, Lauren Oakley, Jowita Przystał, Michelle Tsiakkas, Alexis Warr, Kai Widdrington, and Nancy Xu, in a major UK tour.
Also Nikita is hitting UK stages again next year, this time in major new show Burn the Floor presents: NIKITA KUZMIN – Supernova.
More about tickets to WICKED in London
More about Cynthia Erivo in DRACULA in London
Apollo Victoria Theatre, London
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