Outraged Strictly Come Dancing fans took to Twitter on Saturday night to slam the judges for ‘undermarking’ AJ Odudu’s routine.
The presenter, 33, and her professional partner Kai Widdrington, 26, danced a Couple’s Choice to Make Me Feel by Janelle Monae, placing them second on the leaderboard with a score of 36.
The routine was well-received by the judges, with Cynthia Erivo, Motsi Mabuse’s replacement for the weekend, gushing: ‘I have a special place in my heart for AJ. I love you so much, I thought that was wonderful.’
‘That was a 40!’ Strictly Come Dancing fans slammed judges for ‘undermarking’ AJ Odudu (pictured) after Motsi Mabuse’s replacement Cynthia Erivo gave Dan Walker a higher score
Yet Strictly enthusiasts were left unimpressed when the stand-in judge awarded a higher score – a nine, in comparison to AJ’s eight – to journalist Dan Walker for his Rumba.
‘THAT was a 40!!! Cynthia, I love you but an 8, AN EIGHT, when you gave Dan a 9??’ one frustrated viewer wrote on the microblogging site.
Another aggrieved fan penned: ‘They really are marking AJ and Dan on different criteria.’
An additional disgruntled tweet read: ‘Stop undermarking AJ and Kai STOP IT.’
Dan and his partner Nadiya Bychkova received a score of 30 for their Rumba after leaving the judges gobsmacked with his hip-thrusting actions.
Controversial: Cynthia Erivo, Motsi Mabuse’s replacement for the weekend, awarded a nine, in comparison to AJ’s eight, to journalist Dan Walker for his Rumba, a decision which prompted the Twitter outrage
Big reaction: ‘THAT was a 40!!! Cynthia, I love you but an 8, AN EIGHT, when you gave Dan a 9??’ one frustrated viewer wrote on the microblogging site
Routine: The presenter, 33, and her professional partner Kai Widdrington, 26, danced a Couple’s Choice to Make Me Feel by Janelle Monae, placing them second on the leaderboard with a score of 36
Comparison: Dan Walker and his partner Nadiya Bychkova received a score of 30 for their Rumba to Desperado by the Eagles
Cynthia made her second appearance on the judging panel, this week filling in for Motsi, who revealed she wouldn’t be on the show after being pinged by NHS Test and Trace.
Topping the leaderboard the week before the quarter-finals was John Whaite and Johannes Radebe, who wowed the judges with their Argentine Tango to The 5th by David Garrett.
The former Great British Bake Off winner and his dance partner stole the show with their impressively intense routine, scoring an almost perfect score of 39.
Craig gushed: ‘I absolutely loved it,’ with the baker admitting he was ‘chuffed to bits’ with his outstanding score.
Stealing the show: Topping the leader board the week before the quarter-finals was John Whaite and Johannes Radebe, who wowed the judges with their Argentine Tango to The 5th by David Garrett
Blown away: The couple’s impressively intense routine scored them an almost perfect 39, with Craig gushing: ‘I absolutely loved it’
Delighted: The baker said he was ‘chuffed to bits’ at receiving an almost perfect score
Elsewhere, CBBC star Rhys Stephenson broke down in tears after his emotional Waltz to ‘You Light Up My Life’ by Whitney Houston, which saw him score 35.
Shirley said: ‘You have astounded me, it was beautiful. I felt your emotion, I never thought I would see that from you. I just want to give you a hug.’
The crowd booed when Craig laid into the routine and listed off a number of things he felt were wrong with it.
He admitted: ‘For me, technically, it’s not for me, darling.’
In his feels: Elsewhere, CBBC star Rhys Stephenson broke down in tears after his emotional Waltz to ‘You Light Up My Life’ by Whitney Houston
Emotional: The routine scored him 35
The tenth week of Strictly kicked off with a powerful Paso Doble by Rose Ayling-Ellis and her pro partner Giovanni Pernice.
The deaf actress, 27, and the Italian dancer, 31, performed the out-of-comfort-zone routine to Sia’s California Dreamin’, which received mostly positive feedback from the judges.
Head judge Shirley praised: ‘What a way to open the show. You are a class act. You are bringing it week in and week out.’
Strictly Come Dancing 2021: Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice kicked off week 10 with a powerful Paso Doble
Working hard: The deaf actress, 27, and the Italian dancer, 31, performed the out-of-comfort-zone routine to Sia’s California Dreamin’, which received mostly positive feedback from the judges
Craig, who was back on the panel after testing positive for COVID-19, commended the choreography however wasn’t as impressed as his fellow judges.
‘I thought it was a little upright and stiff. I didn’t feel you pound around the floor as much as you could,’ he said.
Cynthia used sign language among some of her comments, saying: ‘You have this power in you that moves across the floor. Well done.’
They scored 33 for their efforts.
Welcome back: Cynthia made her second appearance on the judging panel, this week filling in for Motsi, who revealed she wouldn’t be on the show after being pinged by NHS Test and Trace
The penultimate routine of the evening was danced by Tilly Ramsay and Nikita Kuzmin.
The YouTuber’s famous TV chef dad Gordon wiped away tears at the end of their Samba to Levitating by Dua Lipa.
Shirley said: ‘I think it needed tidying up a bit. Otherwise, a really good go at a very difficult dance.’
Ballroom star: The penultimate routine of the evening was danced by Tilly Ramsay and Nikita Kuzmin
Emotional: The YouTuber’s famous TV chef dad Gordon wiped away tears at the end of their Samba to Levitating by Dua Lipa
Earlier this week, Motsi, 40, explained that while she is triple jabbed, she is currently in Germany and is not able to travel back due to UK Government guidelines, which do not recognise the vaccines she received.
Motsi’s news comes a week after Craig Revel Horwood was forced to pull out of last week’s show after testing positive for Covid-19 .
Taking to her Twitter page on Friday, Motsi wrote: ‘I am gutted to say I will have to miss this weekend on Strictly… yesterday, I was contacted by NHS Test and Trace as being in close contact with someone on Sunday November 21 who has since tested positive.
Missing out: Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse revealed she won’t be on the judging panel this week after being pinged by track and trace
Being double vaccinated & booster as I am, would normally mean exemption from isolation under the ‘close contact’ rules, but unfortunately German EU vaccinations are not recognised and neither is my booster in this instance.
‘So I must follow UK Government Guidance and can only return after 30 November 2021 to the UK. Our health is the most important thing and luckily I have been tested multiple times this week and am negative.
‘I am healthy, I am with my family that’s what matters! I wish everyone good luck, sending you my love. Keep dancing. Until then, lots of love and stay safe xx.’
The government website states the EU Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC) is not recognised as proof of vaccination for passengers travelling to the UK.
A spokesperson for the show then confirmed that guest judge Cynthia Erivo – who covered for Craig last week – would return to take Moti’s place.
Explanation: The professional dancer, 40, said although she has been tripled jabbed she must still isolate because her vaccinations which were done in Germany are not recognised
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