Katya Jones has clarified a remark she made during the opening live show of Strictly Come Dancing, confirming she mouthed "fierce" rather than "fit" about Emmerdale star Lawrence Robb.
The clarification came via a WhatsApp message to her former dance partner Ed Balls, who shared the exchange on Good Morning Britain. During Saturday's broadcast on 26 September, Katya was positioned upstairs in the Clauditorium while watching Lawrence Robb's routine with Jowita Pryzstal.
What Katya said
The duo received a score of 20 for their Paso Doble, but while the audience and judging panel applauded, Katya appeared to mouth something to fellow professional Aleksandra Isaeva. Viewers were divided on her words, with some questioning whether she had mouthed "fit".
Richard Arnold raised the topic on Good Morning Britain, telling Ed Balls: "Apparently Ed, I'm told you can precisely clear up what your old [dance partner] Katya Jones mouthed about Lawrence Robb on Saturday's show. Did she call him fit?"
Ed responded: "I said yesterday, it's pretty clear she said he's fit, and actually, in my heart of heart, I still kind of think that. But she sent me a WhatsApp, 'I said fierce'."
Reaction and leaderboard
Susanna Reid and Richard Arnold both stated: "I'll take either." Ed added: "Katya's always told me the unvarnished truth, so it must be true."
Lawrence's partner Pamela Blair mirrored the sentiment on social media, posting a photograph of him performing and captioning it: "So fierce."
Katya is currently paired with content creator John Nellis on Strictly this series, with the duo topping the leaderboard after their opening routine, achieving 31 points. "I keep laughing in disbelief," he had earlier stated regarding his Strictly participation. "I keep realising the magnitude of it and getting a bit nervous. I keep saying to my wife how surreal it all is. I keep kind of going, 'This is mad.' So, nervous but ridiculously excited."
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
