Strictly Come Dancing fans are calling for action regarding one of the show’s professional dancers. They’re rallying behind Lauren Oakley after her semi-final performance with JB Gill.
Lauren took to the dance floor with the JLS star on Saturday night (December 7) during the BBC One dance contest’s semi-final. She stepped in to guide JB through to the competition’s penultimate week, replacing his original dance partner Amy Dowden.
Lauren, originally from Birmingham, was initially without a celebrity partner in the 2024 series but was called upon to assist JB when Amy fell ill ahead of Strictly’s Halloween special at the end of October. When Amy couldn’t continue due to a foot injury, Lauren continued in the competition with JB.
The pair have been seen growing stronger, achieving near-perfect scores and topping the leaderboard. However, the semi-final brought a change for JB and Lauren as they received their first perfect score of the series for their second dance of the evening.
JB’s salsa to Basement Jaxx’s Red Alert truly wowed the judges, earning a score of 40 points. Craig Revel Horwood gave the singer a handshake reminiscent of Paul Hollywood, noting that the Great British Bake Off judge was among the audience, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Earlier in the programme, JB and Lauren had earned 39 points for their paso doble to Clint Mansell’s Requiem For A Tower. Motsi Mabuse told JB, who was also marking his 38th birthday that evening, that his dance “was the best birthday present you could give yourself”.
The performances sparked a clear call from fans for Strictly executives not to sideline Lauren next year by excluding her from the competition.
One fan tweeted: “Lauren Oakley should NEVER EVER be benched again! #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.” A second aired: “Another reminder that Lauren was never given a partner this year to begin with. A crime. She’s absolutely phenomenal. #Strictly.”
A third posted: “Lauren has to be guaranteed a partner next year she can never be benched again #Strictly.” A fourth wrote: “I hope Lauren gets a partner next year. She’s brilliant! #strictly.”
Another online user demanded: “I don’t want to see Lauren without a partner at the start of a series ever again! ! #strictly.”
Finally a sixth person chimed in to say: “The way Lauren has stepped in to partner JB and the STANDARD she has bought since shows it is an absolute travesty she didn’t have a partner from the start and she better have a partner next year! ! She’s INCREDIBLE #Strictly.”
Strictly Come Dancing will be back on screens this weekend.