Strictly Come Dancing viewers believe they saw mounting friction between two co-stars during Saturday night's live broadcast (October 3), as the celebrity lineup returned to the BBC dance floor for Movie Week.
Contestants faced intense pressure as they performed to survive in next week's programme and avoid the dance-off. Yet after just two routines, audiences grew suspicious of two of the show's stars as their apparent irritation with each other seemed to come through their television screens.
Motsi 'weirdly rude' to Josh Widdicombe
Many viewers were certain that Motsi Mabuse was growing increasingly frustrated with new host Josh Widdicombe as he tried to charm viewers during his second week presenting the programme. Throughout the opening contestant assessments, audiences noticed that Motsi regularly cut in or talked across the comic when he tried to progress to the following judge.
The mother-of-one also appeared to struggle raising even a chuckle at some of the presenter's gags while working beside his co-host Emma Willis, in stark contrast to her fellow panellists. Viewers rushed to X - previously Twitter - to voice their theories online as the famous faces tried to dazzle the judges with their dancing skills.
One viewer wrote: "Motsi just can't hide her contempt for Josh [five cry-laughing emojis]," while another concurred: "Motsi is weirdly rude to Josh every time she speaks?"
A third added: "I'm sensing a bit of tension from Motsi when Josh talks to her", while a fourth commented: "Motsi is just like me for real. She's over Josh already, too [cry-laughing emoji]."
Motsi marks lower than Craig
Meanwhile, others noticed that Motsi has been considerably tougher than her fellow panellist, Craig Revel Horwood. One viewer observed: "Craig scoring higher than Motsi and Shirley? ? ? What is this?!"
Another concurred: "Craig scoring Delta (Goodrem) higher than Motsi and Shirley... she was definitely overmarked." A third remarked: "Craig giving a higher score than Motsi and Shirley in week two is crazy."
Craig silences fellow judges
Elsewhere, Craig targeted Motsi and Shirley Ballas for speaking over him during his feedback live on air. As he tried to offer some advice for Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon should they progress to next week's programme, his fellow panellists interrupted him and voiced their opinions instead.
As his 10 seconds of feedback ran out, the ballroom specialist silenced them as he snapped: "You've had your moment!" before diving straight into his assessment.
Viewers couldn't help but support him as they flocked to X to voice their opinions online, with one user commenting: "Motsi, wind your neck in, you had your turn let Craig Speak" while another concurred: "Craig saying to Motsi and Shirley, 'You've had your moment'... [two laughing emojis]."
Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
