Strictly Come Dancing got off to a tense start on Saturday at judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse snapped at Craig Revel Horwood over his critique of Tilly Ramsay’s dance.
The CBBC presenter, 19, and Nikita Kuzmin took to the floor to perform a fiery Paso Doble to Diablo Rojo by Rodrigo y Gabriela.
And after Craig gave the dance a tongue-lashing, branding it ‘half an investment’, Motsi hit back questioning if they were watching the same thing, while Shirley fumed: ‘I have no idea what you’re looking at!’
Oh dear! Strictly Come Dancing got off to a tense start on Saturday at judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse snapped at Craig Revel Horwood over his critique of Tilly Ramsay’s dance
Despite Tilly giving it her all, her performance didn’t meet Craig’s standards as he felt that she didn’t put enough effort into the dance.
As host Tess Daly asked what he though, Craig seethed: ‘for me it felt like half an investment’ adding that it ‘lacked drama’, while noting that Tilly wasn’t ‘dancing through the movement.’
However, Motsi was very much in disagreement as she turned to Craig asking: ‘Did we see the same thing?’
The judge went on to praise Tilly, noting that she felt her determination, intention, attack from the leg, adding that it was ‘quite a strong performance.’
Come again? After Craig gave the dance a tongue-lashing, branding it ‘half an investment’, Motsi hit back questioning if they were watching the same thing
Performance: The CBBC presenter, 19, and Nikita Kuzmin took to the floor to perform a fiery Paso Doble to Diablo Rojo by Rodrigo y Gabriela
Shirley was also stunned my Craig’s thoughts, as she exclaimed: ‘I have no idea what you’re looking at!’
The head judge went on to comment on Tilly’s beautiful wrist and hands, saying that she was ‘poised and focused’ and concluded by remarking that it was ‘one of the better Paso Doble’s I’ve seen on a lady.’
Picking up on the drama, Anton quipped: ‘I love it! love it when Craig gets all grumpy’ before stating that the dance was the ‘best dance of the season so far’
The first couple to dance on the night were Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice performed the Cha Cha Cha to Raspberry Beret by Prince.
Hard to please: Despite Tilly giving it her all, her performance didn’t meet Craig’s standards as he felt that she didn’t put enough effort into the dance
He said what?! Motsi was very much in disagreement as she turned to Craig asking: ‘Did we see the same thing?’, while Shirley was also stunned my Craig’s thoughts, as she exclaimed: ‘I have no idea what you’re looking at!’
Not impressed: Shirley and Motsi made their thoughts on Craig’s comments very clear
Big fan: Picking up on the drama, Anton quipped: ‘I love it! love it when Craig gets all grumpy’ before stating that the dance was the ‘best dance of the season so far’
The EastEnders star, the show’s first ever deaf contestant, looked dazzling in a colourful top, fringed trousers and a raspberry beret in a nod to the song.
Following the dance, Motsi remarked that she felt Rose’s nerves but believed she was gaining confidence and ‘getting stronger and stronger’, adding: ‘just keep going!’
Craig said she needed to work on her hip action, but added that she was ‘getting there’, while Shirley commended Giovanni’s leadership.
Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden meanwhile danced the Foxtrot to Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra.
An excited Anton said afterward that he and Shirley ‘almost came on and joined you’ adding that though it was ‘gorgeous’, Tom needed to work on his footwork and arm lines.
While Craig said that the singer needs to lead the dance more, adding that he was ‘holding back’, and Motsi gushed that she ‘genuinely loved that!’
Strictly was hit with drama earlier this week as Robert Webb was forced to pull out of the competition due to ill health.
The comedian, 49, announced his decision on Wednesday night, admitting he had ‘bitten off more than he could chew’, having an ongoing heart condition and two years after undergoing open-heart surgery.
Pulled out: Strictly was hit with drama earlier this week as Robert Webb (pictured with pro partner Dianne Buswell) was forced to pull out of the competition dur to ill health
Prior to the Strictly launch, all contestants were given medical checkups, with Robert also undergoing additional tests with his own team
However, despite being deemed fit to dance by the doctors at the start of the series, the intensity of the show began to take his toll, and he was forced to quit this week under doctor’s orders.
Robert said of the decision: ‘I’m extremely sorry to have to announce that I’m withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing due to ill health.
Bowing out: Prior to the Strictly launch, all contestants were given medical checkups, with Robert also undergoing additional tests with his own team
‘Two years ago I had open heart surgery and although I believed I was fit enough to take on Strictly and its demanding schedule, it became clear that I had bitten off way more than I could chew for this stage in my recovery.
‘I had begun to feel symptoms that led me to seek an urgent consultation with my heart specialist, and it was her view that it would be better for the sake of my health to step back from the show.’
He went on: ‘I’m proud of the three dances that Dianne Buswell and I managed to perform and deeply regret having to let her down like this. I couldn’t have wished for a more talented partner or more patient teacher, and it’s a measure of Dianne’s professionalism and kindness that I was able to get as far as I did.
Regrets: The comedian, 49, announced his decision on Wednesday night, admitting he had ‘bitten off more than he could chew’, having an ongoing heart condition
Robert said of the decision: ‘I’m extremely sorry to have to announce that I’m withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing due to ill health’
‘Thanks too to everyone at home who voted for us. It was always going to be a difficult mountain to climb (for one thing it’s made of glitter so it’s very skiddy) and I’ve been especially touched by the support from fellow heart patients.
‘I think perhaps I was too eager to impress them. They will know that recovery doesn’t always go in a straight line, and I hope they’re not too disappointed that I ran into the limits of my resilience much sooner than I’d hoped.
‘I leave knowing that Strictly viewers are in very safe hands and I’ll be cheering for my brother and sister contestants all the way to Christmas. Despite this sad ending, it has been a genuine honour to be part of this huge, joyful and barking mad TV show. Long may it continue.’
Dianne added: ‘As a massive fan of Robert’s I was delighted to find out that he was joining the Strictly family. On top of this, to find out he was my partner was the icing on the cake’
He added: ‘I leave knowing that Strictly viewers are in very safe hands and I’ll be cheering for my brother and sister contestants all the way to Christmas’
Dianne, who also now has to to leave the show, added: ‘As a massive fan of Robert’s I was delighted to find out that he was joining the Strictly family. On top of this, to find out he was my partner was the icing on the cake.
‘We made a great team, worked hard and had a good laugh along the way. I am so proud of the three amazing dances we produced.
‘I know Robert had a lot more to give to the competition but his health of course comes first and I wish him a speedy recovery. I feel lucky to have danced with him and to call him a friend.’
Oh dear: Just a day later, it was revealed that fellow contestant Ugo Monye has been forced to pull out of Saturday’s live show with an injury
Just a day later, it was revealed that fellow contestant Ugo Monye has been forced to pull out of Saturday’s live show with an injury.
The rugby union player, 38, – who is partnered with Oti Mabuse – took to Twitter on Thursday to reveal to fans that he was suffering from ‘back problems’ but would be back the week after.
Ugo wrote to fans on Thursday: ‘Unfortunately I’m not going to be able to dance this weekend on the show.
Upset: Ugo wrote to fans on Thursday: ‘Unfortunately I’m not going to be able to dance this weekend on the show’
‘I have a history of back problems which has always been managed under the guidance of medical professionals. Unfortunately this has been causing me some unwanted problems this week!
‘I have been advised by medical professionals and with huge support from Strictly to get some treatment & rest to ensure that I can get myself back to full capacity and fighting fit for next week.’
A spokesperson for Strictly Come Dancing told MailOnline the show will ‘go ahead as normal’ on Saturday, meaning a contestant will still be eliminated this weekend.
Ugo concluded that he was ‘gutted’ to not be returning to the dance floor this weekend alongside professional partner Oti.
‘Wishing all the other contestants the best of luck & will be cheering them on from home,’ the star concluded in his Twitter thread.
Disruption: The rugby union player, 38, – who is partnered with Oti Mabuse – took to Twitter on Thursday to reveal to fans that he was suffering from ‘back problems’ but would be back the week after