The BBC competition’s latest instalment saw the remaining eight contestants trek to the world-famous Blackpool ballroom but fans of the hugely-popular show were underwhelmed by the confusing performances.
Show favourite Debbie McGee, 59, and her professional partner Giovanni Pernice shocked with a Spice Girls medley, as she gave a rollicking routine filled with podiums and backing dances, but failed to achieve her best scores from the judging panel and slipped down the leaderboard to fifth place.
Former ballerina Darcey Bussell summed up the performance when she told the former magician’s assistant that she’d lacked her previous “energy and enthusiasm”.
Meanwhile, those at home were unimpressed with The Saturdays singer Mollie King and AJ Pritchard’s Charleston, as it was set to the rather unusual song choice of Little Mix’s Wings.
Tonight’s offering also saw Queen of Latin Shirley criticised for her “insensitive” comments towards Jonnie Peacock, a Paralympics medal winner and amputee.
Aware that the Tango would be his most difficult dance on the series, due to the need for strict posture, Jonnie, 24, was understandably nervous, but Shirley was unforgiving, as she told him that he “needed to be better”.
Expressing their annoyance on Twitter, viewers launched a tirade of complaints against the instalment.
“#strictly this has got to be the worst strictly Blackpool ever, really lacking something hoping they are saving the best till last!! @alexandramusic and @gorkamarquez1,” one person commented.
Another viewer wrote: “The worst thing about #Strictly at Blackpool is the awful camerawork. Impossible to follow a dance,” followed by: “This is the worst Blackpool show ever so far #Strictly.”
Meanwhile, fans continued to blast the judges, which alongside Darcey also included Shirley Ballas, 57, Bruno Tonioli, 61, and Craig Revel Horwood, 52, for their over and under-marking of the various contenders.
“Catching up with #strictly and once again Debbie is over marked really sorry but I don’t think that Samba deserved two nines. Debbie is still brilliant and will defo make final but I didn’t think tonight was good,”(sic) one person said.
Another added: “Underwhelmed by the whole #Strictly series I have to say. Constant over-marking of McGee and constant sniping at Jonnie is getting on my chimes tbh. Blackpool was ‘meh’ and Halloween was ‘me’.”(sic)
Strictly Come Dancing continues tomorrow at 7.15pm on BBC One.
Daily Express :: TV and Radio Feed
