Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse delivered a moment of pure, unscripted television gold during Saturday night's Musicals Week, leaving audiences both in the studio and at home in hysterics. The fiery exchange occurred when professional dancer Neil Jones boldly interrupted her live critique, prompting a legendary clapback from the unimpressed judge.
The On-Air Confrontation That Stopped the Show
The drama unfolded on Saturday, 6th December 2025, as the final five couples took to the floor for a spectacular Musicals Week. After former footballer Karen Carney and her partner Carlos Gu performed an energetic samba to 'The Rhythm of Life' from Sweet Charity, Motsi began to deliver her feedback. She praised a particularly difficult spin, stating, "One spin here was absolutely sensational. That was so difficult and you pulled it off."
However, her analysis was cut short as Neil Jones, watching from the balcony, shouted down and interrupted her commentary. Not one to suffer fools gladly, Motsi instantly bit back. Turning sharply towards him, she retorted, "Neil, you get a partner next year and I'll be careful what numbers I will be pulling." To hammer home her point, she then held up her scorecard displaying the number two directly at him, as the studio erupted into laughter.
Viewers React to Motsi's No-Nonsense Moment
The savage shutdown quickly became the talk of social media, with Strictly fans flocking to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to share their amusement and support for Motsi's stance.
One delighted viewer wrote, "Motsi shutting down Neil is EVERYTHING to me lol," capturing the sentiment of many. Another exclaimed, "The shade towards Neil from Motsi. IM DEAD!" The act of holding up the '2' card was a particular highlight, with a third fan posting: "Not Motsi calling out Neil and giving him a 2 bwahaha."
The consensus was clear: Motsi's swift action was celebrated. "Motsi taking down Neil is everything. Absolutely brilliant, the savage cutting down," shared one social media user, while another quipped, "Neil has been well and truly told. Welldone Motsi, teach him some manners."
Behind the Scenes: A History of Playful Jabs
Interestingly, this public jab at Neil comes hot on the heels of another playful dig from his ex-wife and fellow Strictly professional, Katya Jones. The pair were married for six years and together for 11 before separating in summer 2019.
Appearing on Strictly's spin-off show It Takes Two alongside Amy Dowden this week, Katya was asked which pro might excel in a samba challenge. When Amy suggested Neil, Katya joked, "Why does everyone say Neil? We were never good at Samba!" Host Janette Manrara responded, "Neil will love you for that one!" as the pair burst into laughter.
While seemingly light-hearted, these consecutive remarks paint a picture of Neil Jones becoming the good-natured butt of the joke amongst the Strictly family, with Motsi's live television moment being the most public and hilarious instance yet. It provided a burst of unfiltered personality that fans adore, proving once again that the magic of Strictly often lies in its unexpected, unscripted interactions.
