The Strictly Come Dancing final is less than a week away so Shirley Ballas may be forgiven for being more critical than usual. Or not if viewers' comments are anything to go by. The dance contest's head judge divided fans as she appeared back on the BBC One show's panel on Sunday night (December 11).
Once again Shirley was alongsdie Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke as they cast their expert eye on the remaining couples' semi-final performances with a place in the Strictly 2022 final at stake. And with the Glitterball trophy in touching distance, Shirley wasn't messing around.
She caused a ripple of boos from the audience when she criticised Will Mellor's first routine of the night, a Paso Doble to Uccen by Taalbi brothers and DWTS. "There was quite a few things missing in this dance," she started before she encouraged the live studio audience to 'hang on' so she could have a moment to speak.
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"You had the arrogance part, fantastic," Shirley went on. Basic fundamentals were very much missing for me. When you choose to use a cape you have to extend it, you can’t use it as a little scarf. I do believe you give 100% of your heart, but this is the semi-final."
Later, after Hamza Yassin and his partner, Jowita Przystał performed their second dance of the evening, a Waltz to What the World Needs Now by Burt Bacharach following a Charleston in a kilt to Pencil Full of Lead by Paolo Nutini, Shirley told them: "You have a body which is so beautiful and highly tuned. Today, you're a little bit twisted with the left arm..."
But getting boos from the audience, Shirley declared: "Let's learn! We can't just give out tens if they're not right." She then added: "Do I think you belong in the final? Absolutely."
There was even one point where Craig encouraged the booing of Shirley as he felt it was a change from him getting the reaction to his usually tough-talking critique. And Strictly fans watching from home had a lot to say about Shirley's comments.
@sneakydenim tweeted: "Shirley is choosing chaos today #Strictly." @meganpsitn asked: "Seriously though, who p****d off Shirley today??? She's been in a mood the whole show. #Strictly." @EmsieLupton pondered: "Wow is Shirley okay today? #Strictly."
Thinking they spotted the reason for Shirley's change, @robbied1506 joked: "Wow, Sunday is obviously not a good day for Shirley #Strictly." @SuzieSleighdeer commented: "Shirley is not normally out on a Sunday, it's wrecking with her brain, she needs a rest #Strictly." @l234S6789l0lll2 added: "Shirley gets a bit more honest on a Sunday..."
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