Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood called for Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal to be disqualified from this week’s dance after “illegally” using lifts in their performance.
The pair performed the Rumba to Don’t Look Back In Anger by Oasis and left the judges to argue with one another after adding in two lifts – something which is frowned upon in the style of dance.
After telling Tess Daly he felt like an otter due to his costume, it was Shirley Ballas who delivered her comments first and noted the “illegal” lifts.
She said: “Well Pete, where do we start here? A very masculine approach to the Rumba, I like that, with a very feminine lady on your arm.
“I loved all the lifts that probably shouldn’t have been, you are supposed to keep your feet on the floor but I am going to let them slide.
“They were picked up and you were excellent and what you did. You isolated this half of your body and you rolled those hips in the figure eight, I was mesmerised.
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal incorporated lifts into their Rumba routine
BBC
“I just need a little bit more of that figure eight everywhere and it would have delighted me. That isolation I will be thinking about that for a week, it was fabulous.”
Whilst Ballas was willing to let the lifts slide, Horwood on the other hand was not and slammed: “As for the lifts, that is totally illegal, there were two lifts.
“One foot should remain on the floor at all times, of course, it is up to the professional if they want to lose marks for that, and of course, you will be marked down for that.
“I think even a disqualification darling… But I am not head judge so there you are. I have an issue with that because I think you should follow the rules.”
Shirley Ballas said she was willing to forgive the lifts
BBC
Despite his distaste towards the lifts, he went on to praise Wicks and said: “That being said I do like seeing how committed you are to this.
“I can see very clearly you have been studying and studying and studying to make this good.”
Speaking to Claudia Winkleman about his performance after, Wicks noted: “ I am growing to love it but I don’t have to do it again so we will stick with hate.
“I absolutely love that song – well I did at the start of the week – but by tonight I don’t think I will ever forget being wet and damp in front of millions of people.”
Viewers of the show were left outraged at the “inconsistency” of Shirley Ballas’ comments
BBC
Whilst the couple scored 22 out of a possible 40, many fans watching at home took issue with Ballas letting the lifts slide and took to their X accounts to moan.
One noted: “I love Pete but Shirley choosing to ignore the lifts is hilarious considering if that was a female celeb she would have eaten them alive #strictly.”
Another added: “The inconsistency from judges ruins it. They’re harsher on others than some. And let things slide for others #Strictly.”
A third expressed: “Shirley ‘letting the lifts slide’ that shouldn’t have been there for Pete and Jowita but any other couple she would’ve crucified them???#StrictlyComeDancing.”
“Excuse me Shirely, why are we excusing lifts? there shouldn’t be any lifts in a rumba. you wouldn’t excuse it if it was anyone else,” someone else asked before a fifth said: “I’m gonna let it slide’ Shirley this is blatantly obvious stop it now #strictly.” (sic)
