Strictly Come Dancing viewers have clocked an 'unfair' detail following Cach Mercer's debut live performance on the dance floor. The reality personality, 25, stepped out with professional partner Maddie Ingoldsby on Saturday evening, delivering a Quickstep to Bruno Mars' I Just Might as the 2026 series properly kicked off.
However, it wasn't long before audiences began questioning the judges' critique of the routine, particularly their remarks regarding the choreography. Cach's performance featured elements from his street dance background, which rapidly became a heated topic of discussion when the panel delivered their assessment.
Judges' harsh remarks
Craig Revel Horwood proved especially harsh, declaring to Cach: "Too much freestyle for me. You're a great freestyle dancer that is a fact but we don't need to see that here in a quick step."
"The whole point of this is that you're learning a new genre of dance so I'm finding it hard to judge that. I'm going to judge what quick step you actually did. Your posture wasn't great, your frame wasn't great so I'm sorry."
Motsi Mabuse seemed to echo some of Craig's observations while also celebrating Cach's talent. She remarked: "I understand what Craig is saying. I have to say something that is really important, dance is about music and music lives in your body and that was genius from you, the way you work with the music. I'm going to put it this way, he's right, you need to learn the rule, the ballroom rules."
Fans defend Cach
Shirley Ballas also supported Craig's critique of the performance, while highlighting Cach's promise as a dancer. "You're not going to like what I'm going to say but I absolutely agree with Craig," she declared. "I like the beginning when you start solo and I wouldn't have minded a bit at the end but you've got potential to be a great ballroom dancer and this is more what we would see in a street dance. Are you gifted? Absolutely. Can you feel? Absolutely. Personality? Absolutely."
Cach eventually received scores of 3 from Craig, 6 from Motsi, 5 from Shirley and 6 from Anton Du Beke, totalling 20 points. However, fans were swift to challenge whether Cach deserved such harsh criticism for aspects of the choreography, considering the routines are devised alongside professional dancers or choreographers.
One viewer posted: "Hate it when they critique celebs for choreography when it's not their fault! ! #strictly" Another commented: "These critiques when Cach didn't do the choreography #strictly".
New presenters for the series
Someone else questioned: "How is that Cach's fault? Its choreography is it not?" A fourth fan remarked: "See that's on the pro- she makes the choreography! ! Hate when they blame the celeb #strictly".
Another chimed in: "I hate when the celebs get punished for bad choreography #strictly" While one viewer challenged the judges' approach, posting: "Why are the judges being so rude? he weren't in charge of his choreography #Strictly" The remarks were made during the inaugural live episode of the fresh series, which also signalled the start of a new chapter for the BBC ballroom sensation.
Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe are presenting the programme this year, replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One.
