Strictly Come Dancing fans are urging professional dancer Maddie Ingoldsby to 'take the blame' after her celebrity partner Cach Mercer was given 'harsh' feedback from the judges during the first live show of the 2026 series.
All 15 celebrities took to the dance floor on Saturday (September 26), including Will Best, Lacey Turner, Chris Appleton, Dani Dyer and Melanie Walters. Love Island star Cach Mercer performed a full routine for the first time in front of judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood.
Mixed judges' feedback for freestyle-infused quickstep
Cach, a freestyle dancer specialising in hip-hop and Afrobeats, performed the quickstep to I Just Might by Bruno Mars with his pro partner Maddie Ingoldsby. The pair added some of Cach's freestyle moves into the routine, which divided the judging panel.
Craig said: "Too much freestyle for me. You are a great freestyle dancer, that is a fact, we don't need to see that here in a quickstep. The whole point of this is you are learning a new genre of dance."
Disagreeing, Motsi Mabuse said: "I understand what Craig is saying, but dance is about music and music lives in your body and that was genius."
Viewers blame choreography, not Cach
However Shirley agreed with Craig, stating: "You have got potential to be a great ballroom dancer, but this was more what we would see in a street dance. I'm not saying it needs to be all quickstep, but I'm afraid I have to go with Craig on this."
But Anton agreed with Motsi and said: "I thought it was terrific. Sort your posture out. I am looking forward to watching you dance."
The couple landed a score of 20, with a 3 from Craig, a 6 from Motsi, a 5 from Shirley and a 6 from Anton.
But viewers have since said that they think Maddie should take blame for the 'harsh' feedback directed at Cach, as it was her choreography.
Taking to X, @RyanSoapKing25 wrote: "Given Maddie is a new pro who hasn't danced on the show before I feel the blame should land at her feet for the "Hip hop" ish Choreo. Cach is more a Latin boy but I think the judges were incredibly harsh on him."
@scott_and_ball said: "Cach has the makings, but Maddie is responsible for the choreography and she took the cheap way out this week. Very disappointing."
@GeorginaShine7 wrote: "Catching up on #Strictly and gotta say bad choreography from Maddie making Cach’s performance not right. Yes he’s got background in freestyle, but he’s not performing freestyle he’s performing Quickstep but we didn’t get to see if he can do that well because of bad choreo."
@LisaPatten1 also said: "Cach and Maddie I have no idea who he is but that was brilliant to watch, it's the professionals job to nail the choreography rules, not the celebrity's and if no one on team Strictly warned her of that then shame on them."
@biscuitl9ver agreed: "They should direct criticism to Maddie like say her name. Talk to her, not him #Strictly"
@bethanyhavers echoed: "Why are they being so harsh on Cach? He was amazing! He doesn't dictate choreo (loved the choreo tbh) and he aced it anyway. So shhh judges #strictly #strictlycomedancing."
