Strictly Come Dancing's Musicals Week results show has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with viewers branding a guest performance from the West End show Titanique as 'insensitive' and 'disrespectful'. The backlash erupted on Sunday night as the cast performed a parody number featuring Céline Dion hits related to the Titanic disaster.
Viewer Fury Over 'Tasteless' Titanic Tribute
The segment, which aired on BBC One, featured the cast of the musical currently playing at London's Criterion Theatre. Titanique is a comedic parody that uses songs like 'My Heart Will Go On' to tell the story of the 1912 maritime catastrophe. However, the decision to include it in a family entertainment show prompted an immediate and angry response on social media platform X.
Many viewers questioned the judgement behind creating a musical about a real-life tragedy where over 1,500 people lost their lives. One user wrote: 'Actually incredible that a musical about the Titanic exists. So disrespectful. Who thought that was a good idea?' Another added: 'The Titanic sinking was and still is a massive, terrible event in world history. Why on earth would you do a stage musical of it?'
The criticism centred on the perceived poor taste of turning a historical disaster into light entertainment. 'Once again, I find Titanique remarkably tasteless. Real people died. Very much not for me,' posted one disgruntled viewer, capturing the sentiment of many who found the concept jarring during the weekend's broadcast.
Shock Exit for Fan Favourite Lewis Cope
While the Titanique performance stirred outrage, the results segment delivered a major upset for the competition itself. In a surprise dance-off, Emmerdale star Lewis Cope, 30, and his professional partner Katya Jones, 36, were eliminated from the contest.
They found themselves in the bottom two against Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, despite both couples being near the top of the leaderboard after Saturday's performances. For the dance-off, Amber and Nikita reprised their perfect-scoring Charleston to 'Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat', while Lewis and Katya performed their Salsa to 'Dance at the Gym' from West Side Story.
Head Judge Shirley Ballas described the decision as leaving her 'speechless', but it was Motsi Mabuse's casting vote that ultimately sent Amber and Nikita through to the semi-final after the other judges were tied. Lewis had received a score of 35 for his Salsa on Saturday, with feedback from Shirley that there were 'missed connections' and he looked 'a little bit tight'.
Emotional Farewells and Public Backlash
The elimination of the popular actor prompted an outpouring of disappointment from fans, many of whom believed he was a potential winner. 'I’m so heart broken for Katya, I really thought she’d win it this year,' one supporter wrote. Another commented: 'I feel weird about that result. Lewis was clearly final worthy. Such a shame.'
In his emotional exit interview, Lewis thanked the show for creating a space where people 'can be themselves, grow, learn, express themselves'. Paying tribute to Katya, he said: 'You've literally given me absolutely everything I could wish for as a friend, as a teacher... I couldn't imagine it with anybody else.'
Katya, in turn, praised Lewis as 'one of, if not, the best male celebrity we've ever had on the show' and 'an incredible person'. Lewis also reflected on the show's wider impact, noting it had brought four generations of his family together and inspired young boys to take up dancing.
The results show also featured a group number by the Strictly professionals to 'Cell Block Tango' from Chicago. The remaining four couples now progress to next weekend's Semi-Final, where they will each perform two routines. The episode will feature a performance by Kylie Minogue and music from Five singing a medley of their biggest hits. The shows air on BBC One and iPlayer at 6.35pm on Saturday and 7:45pm on Sunday.
