Strictly Come Dancing fans flooded social media to express their confusion over the judges' scores and comments during the Movie Week special, with many also noting the judges' apparent lack of themed costumes.
Movie Week airs earlier than usual
The BBC One dance contest returned for its second live show on Saturday night (October 3), with all 15 celebrities and their professional partners performing routines inspired by films. The show opened with a pre-recorded professional routine based on the Disney animation Zootropolis, with dancers dressed as animals such as a bunny and a gazelle, performing to Shakira's tracks Try Everything and Zoo from the first film and its 2025 sequel.
This year's Movie Week took place earlier than in any previous series, coming in week two rather than later in the competition. The couples performed their second routines of the series, ahead of the first public vote and first elimination, with results due to be revealed on Sunday (October 4).
Delta Goodrem tops leaderboard
Australian singer Delta Goodrem, 41, and her professional partner Kai Widdrington, 31, topped the leaderboard following their performance. The pair danced an American smooth to I'll Never Love Again from A Star Is Born, earning 30 points. Combined with their score of 29 from the previous week, they now lead with a total of 59 points.
At the other end of the leaderboard, Gavin and Stacey actress Melanie Walters and her partner Aljaž Škorjanec performed a waltz to Edelweiss from The Sound of Music, receiving 15 points and a combined total of 30, placing them bottom ahead of the first elimination.
Fans question judges' consistency and costumes
Many viewers took to social media to discuss the judges rather than the dancing, criticising their scoring and critiques. One fan wrote: "Another year of the judges and their inconsistency absolutely baffling me #strictly." Another commented: "Daaaaamm have the judges got their grumpy pants on today with the scores?? #strictly."
A third viewer fumed: "Strictly judges again with their selective marking. Also 4 and 5 are totally and utterly degrading but yet 8s for an ok ish dance is over the top. Totally and utterly ridiculous #strictly." Others noted the judges' lack of themed outfits, with one posting: "I felt movie week wasn't special this year, coming in week 2... and why didn't the judges dress up as normal for movie week #strictly." Another wrote: "Sorry, why aren't the judges dressed up?! Total vibe is missing #Strictly."
