  We present the analysis of several newly obtained and archived photometric
and spectroscopic datasets of the intriguing and yet poorly understood 13.5-mag
central star candidate of the bipolar planetary nebula Sh2-71. Photometric
observations confirmed the previously determined quasi-sinusoidal lightcurve
with a period of 68 days and also indicated periodic sharp brightness dips,
possibly eclipses, with a period of 17.2 days. In addition, the comparison
between U and V lightcurves revealed that the 68-day brightness variations are
accompanied by a variable reddening effect of $\Delta E(U-V)=0.38$.
Spectroscopic datasets demonstrated pronounced variations in spectral profiles
of Balmer, helium and singly ionised metal lines and indicated that these
variations occur on a time-scale of a few days. The most accurate verification
to date revealed that spectral variability is not correlated with the 68-day
brightness variations. The mean radial velocity of the observed star was
measured to be $\sim$26 km/s with an amplitude of $\pm$40 km/s. The spectral
type was determined to be B8V through spectral comparison with synthetic and
standard spectra. The newly proposed model for the central star candidate is a
Be binary with a misaligned precessing disc.
