Strictly fans wowed by Marvel's Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton in the crowd

What Did You Miss?

Marvel Studios stars Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton enjoyed a night to remember at the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom yesterday (December 2).

In town for Musicals Week, the engaged couple are recognised worldwide for playing Thor's mischievous brother Loki, whose Disney+ show just wrapped up its second season, and Captain Marvel's newest nemesis Dar-Benn.

Following Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola's Beauty and the Beast recreation via the Quickstep, the BBC cameras kept switching over to the wowed crowd, which came to reveal Hiddleston and Ashton clapping and smiling amongst the contestants' family and friends.

What, how and why?

Hiddleston originally discussed his love for Strictly during an appearance on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show last month, telling the radio presenter: "It's been difficult to determine who is going to go all the way this year..."

The Golden Globe Award winner was then asked to name his favourites of the series so far, despite confessing earlier that he didn't "know anything about ballroom".

"I think Ellie is maybe the most improved. She's extraordinary, pretty amazing," he said, with Ball concurring: "There's something about that partnership. Vito, I adore."

As Hiddleston and Ashton's joint cameo aired this weekend on BBC One, the social media platform X came to life with viewer reactions.

"I'm really sorry to all the dancers but I really can't concentrate on them when TOM HIDDLESTON IS IN THE CROWD" and "OMG TOM HIDDLESTON IS IN THE #STRICTLY AUDIENCE EVERYONE STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING," wrote two individuals.

A third fan even suggested: "Yes please keep showing Tom Hiddleston and get him on the next series of #Strictly!!"

What else happened on Strictly Come Dancing?

As well as celebrity fans, Leach and Coppola were graced with some fabulous feedback from the judging panel.

"What a beautiful way to open our show this evening, Musicals Week, and I felt inside two minutes I watched a whole musical," raved head judge Shirley Ballas.

"I got the whole storyline, your narrative was really off the chart [and] what I also loved is that you have the ability to separate - dance with another partner and look just as good with him, and then you come back together; you didn't flinch, you stayed calm, it looked elegant."

The infamously tough Craig Revel Horwood added: "It got a little bit polka-y, only on one occasion I have to say... but I have to say you have grown so much in this competition as a dancer.

"Multiple partners... lucky girl, the story was told clearly and efficiently, I absolutely loved it!"

The Strictly Come Dancing results show airs 7.20pm on BBC One.

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Watch: Strictly's Vito Coppola tells Ellie Leach she reminds him of fairytale princess