Strictly Come Dancing viewers were left astonished after judge Shirley Ballas planted a kiss on colleague Motsi Mabuse during the first live instalment of the current season.
The formidable telly star, aged 63, was offering critique on a tango pose to Olympic athlete Tom Dean and his dance partner Nadiya Bychkova, and highlighted that “it’s all in the posture” on last night’s episode (September 21).
She invited up fellow judge Motsi to demonstrate the pose and with the audience looking on, Anton Du Beke could barely contain his delight, egging on the pair with an enthusiastic “go on girls”, reports the Mirror.
Ballas surprised everyone, including Motsi herself, when she then planted a kiss on the lips of her fellow judge. The unanticipated moment instantly spurred online chatter among the Strictly fanbase, particularly across Twitter/X.
One viewer commented: “Motsi and Shirley kissing live on Strictly to give us the same sex representation we’re missing this series lmao.”
It comes as Motsi recently shared her feelings of missing professional dancer Oti Mabuse during her chat on Loose Women. A few familiar professionals are not returning this year, including her sister Oti who left Strictly in 2022 and while on the ITV Chat show Motsi opened up about how their bond remains strong.
At the time, she expressed her feelings, saying: “I do miss her because there’s that silent connection when your sister is there. When she walked past or when she was sitting across.”
She then detailed how Oti’s company gave her comfort as she settled into life in the UK coming from Germany, sharing. “You have to imagine I came from Germany to a whole close-knit family and I’m the new one, so just seeing her I felt like, ‘Ok, everything is going to be ok.’
“We’re very connected, I would say it doesn’t matter which social media or telephone or whatever, we are on the phone with each other day and night.”