Tilly Ramsay topped the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard with a beautiful Foxtrot as she bounced back following her recent run-in with Steve Allen over his fat-shaming comments about her.
The CBBC presenter, 19, and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin left the judges and audience in awe with their defiant dance to Little Things by One Direction, with Tilly remarking that it had been a ‘tough week’ with her technique.
Tilly’s performance comes after she hit out at LBC’s presenter Steve, 67, for calling her a ‘chubby little thing’ during his radio show earlier this week.
Defiant: Tilly Ramsay topped the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard with a beautiful Foxtrot as she bounced back following her recent run-in with Steve Allen over his fat-shaming comments about her
Tilly, who looked sensational a sparklingly baby blue gown gave it her all on the dance floor as she brushed aside the recent drama to give a stellar performance which earned herself and Nikita an impressive score of 36 points.
Speaking following their dance, Shirley gushed that it was ‘beautiful’ and ‘unbelievable’, adding that she ‘very rarely’ sees a lady who can stay connected to a man’s right side.’
It comes after the CBBC presenter took to Instagram on Wednesday to respond to radio presenter Steve fat-shaming her on his radio show.
Cruel: Tilly’s performance comes after she recently hit out at LBC’s Steve Allen, 67, for calling her a ‘chubby little thing’ during his radio show earlier this week
In the post, Tilly revealed she was ‘learning to accept’ herself but had still been left ‘hurt’ by the shocking remarks.
Alongside the statement she shared a soundbite from Steve’s show, in which he read out a comment from a listener alerting him to the fact Tilly was taking part in Celebrity MasterChef Australia.
Steve – who is on air between 4am and 7am – then remarked: ‘Is she? Well, she can’t blimming well dance!
Amazing: The CBBC presenter, 19, and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin left the judges and audience in awe with their defiant dance to Little Things by One Direction , with Tilly remarking that it had been a ‘tough week’ with her technique
Wow: Tilly, who looked sensational a sparklingly baby blue gown gave it her all on the dance floor as she brushed aside the recent drama to give a stellar performance which earned herself and Nikita an impressive score of 36 points
‘I’m bored of her already. She’s a chubby little thing isn’t she. Have you noticed? Probably her dad’s cooking I should imagine.’
In response to the remarks, Tilly penned: ‘I try not to read and listen to comments and negativity however recently being called out on a national radio station by a 67-year-old man is a step too far.
‘Steve please feel free voice your opinions however I draw the line at commenting on my appearance. It’s such a shame that someone is trying to make such a positive experience negative.’
Cruel: On his show, Steve had said: ‘I’m bored of her already. She’s a chubby little thing isn’t she? Have you noticed? Probably her dad’s cooking I should imagine’ (pictured in 2019)
Shocking: Tilly said she was deeply hurt that Steve had felt the need to comment on her weight after watching her on Strictly
Tilly continued:’This isn’t the first and definitely wont’ be the last comment made about my appearance and I accept that and I’m learning to accept myself.
‘But please remember that words can hurt. And at the end of the day I am only 19 and I’m so grateful for all the amazing opportunities I have been able to take part in.
‘And I understand that being in the public eye obviously comes with it’s own repercussions and I’ve been aware of this from a young age.
‘However, I won’t tolerate people that think it’s okay to publicly comment and scrutinise anyone’s weight and appearance. Love Tilly xx’
She captioned the post ‘#bekind’.
Shock: The CBBC presenter had taken to Instagram to respond to LBC radio presenter Steve fat-shaming her on his radio show
In the wake of Tilly’s comments about Steve, there has been an outpouring of support for the star from fans and other celebrities.
Tilly was deeply touched when Love Island’s Dr Alex George wrote an email to LBC telling the station he was ‘absolutely horrified by the remarks’.
While Gemma Collins took to Instagram on Friday to share a bottom-baring selfie in response to LBC DJ Steve Allen’s latest trolling campaign.
It came years after he branded Gemma ‘fat’ and likened her to Star Wars character Jabba The Hutt.
Taking a stand: The GC took to Instagram on Friday to share a bottom-baring selfie in response to LBC DJ Steve Allen’s latest trolling campaign
Meanwhile, celebrities including Amy Hart, Rhian Sugden and Megan McKenna have come forward to share their own experiences of being trolled and to call for him to be fired.
This week’s show sees the absence of Judi Love after she was forced to drop out of after testing positive for Covid-19.
The Loose Women presenter, 40, who was due to perform the Cha-cha with dance partner Graziano Di Prima, 27, will be given a free pass to compete in the show the following week- providing she has a negative Covid test.
Judi is the second star to miss a live show due to Covid, with McFly’s Tom Fletcher, 36, and his dance partner Amy Dowden, 31, missing out on week two of the series.
Missing a week: This week’s show sees the absence of Judi Love after she was forced to drop out of after testing positive for Covid-19 (pictured with dancer partner Graziano Di Prima)
A Strictly spokesperson said: ‘Judi Love has tested positive for Covid-19 and is now self-isolating following the latest government guidelines.
‘While Judi and Graziano will not be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this weekend, Strictly Come Dancing protocols mean that all being well, they will return the following week.’
Meanwhile, week 5 sees the return of rugby star Ugo Monye, who last week was forced to pull out of the show due to injury.
The rugby union player, 38, – who is partnered with Oti Mabuse – took to Twitter to reveal to fans that he was suffering from ‘back problems’ but would be back the week after.
Ugo wrote to fans last week: ‘Unfortunately I’m not going to be able to dance this weekend on the show.
He’s back! Meanwhile, week 5 sees the return of rugby star Ugo Monye, who last week was forced to pull out of the show due to injury
‘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.’
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.
Ugo’s announcement came just a day after Robert Webb bowed out of the show, admitting he had ‘bitten off more than he could chew’, having an ongoing heart condition two years after undergoing open-heart surgery.
His pro partner, Dianne Buswell also left the competition.
Strictly Come Dancing Continues Saturday at 7.10pm on BBC One.
Bowing out: Ugo’s announcement came just a day after Robert Webb bowed out of the show due to ill health