Strictly Come Dancing fans are up in arms and some are rallying for one judge to get the sack following claims of ‘over-scoring’ a lacklustre performance during the much-celebrated Blackpool week.
In the latest show, Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal hit the Blackpool dance floor with their Cha Cha to Right Said Fred’s classic I’m Too Sexy, Pete clad in tight pink PVC trousers.
Craig Revel Horwood was unsparing with his critique, slamming Pete’s number as “very uncoordinated” and pointing out, “you were behind musically” before giving out a meagre four points.
Motsi Mabuse was both confounded and tickled, admitting: “I loved it for all the wrong reasons. I would watch it over and over. I’m still trying to figure out what’s happening here.”
But Shirley Ballas’ verdict stood in sharp opposition; she gave Pete and Jowita an eight and showered him with compliments: “You had some very good isolation, you had a very good neck line….Your hips were swinging left and right”, reports the Liverpool Echo.
She praised effusively: “It was very entertaining. I don’t think I’m going to forget this evening for a long time.”
However, incensed viewers have taken to Twitter in force to voice their indignation towards Shirley, condemning her for seemingly ignoring Pete’s dance missteps.
Tweets flooded in such as: “Need Shirley to leave after this series. So f****** unprofessional. Pete gets ‘very entertaining’ for that.”
And another tweet showed disappointment: “Shirley losing all credibility as a judge.”
Some Strictly Come Dancing fans have voiced their dissatisfaction with head judge Shirley Ballas’ style, making such comments as, “No matter what Pete does Shirley praises him.”
A viewer remarked, “I need Shirley’s head judge status removed.”
When speaking to The Sun about her tenure on the show, Shirley Ballas affirmed her commitment: “You know, I’m not going anywhere as long as the BBC would like to have me.”
Shirley also stood firm on her approach to judging: “I judge without fear or favour. I’m just someone who sits in that chair as head judge to stay in my lane and judge the dancing – legs, feet, body co-ordination, synchronisation and chemistry between the leader and the follower.”
Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.