Strictly Come Dancing viewers are demanding Shirley Ballas be removed from the judging panel after the latest episode, criticising her critique of Lacey Turner and her decision to save Shaun Wright-Phillips in the dance-off.
The 66-year-old judge faced heavy backlash on social media, with many describing her feedback to the 38-year-old EastEnders actress as “vile” and “nasty”. Turner and her partner Vito Coppola performed a Tango to Atomic by Blondie.
Judges Divided Over Tango Performance
While Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke gave more positive reviews, Ballas did not hold back in her assessment. “There were some things that I liked. Shall I start with that? It was a powerful routine,” she said, before the audience erupted in boos.
“Oh, I haven't even started yet,” she declared. “It had everything in it, but the kitchen sink for me. For me, it was over-syncopated and it looked rough. You weren't on the correct side of the body.”
She added: “What I do like is your commitment, your power. I think you're a talented young lady, but you know that I really want you to improve. But at the end of the day, you've also got to be able to stand on your feet and you've also got to have some decent footwork.”
Craig Revel Horwood Reacts on Panel
A frustrated Craig then stood up from the panel and placed the pair of shoes Ballas keeps behind her desk in her mouth. “Put that in your gob,” he exclaimed, making his disagreement with her assessment clear.
Ballas's remarks sparked outrage among viewers, with many criticising the way she delivered her comments and calling for her to be axed from the show next year.
Viewers Call for Change
“Craig was all of us during Shirley's feedback for Lacey last night. You know there is something seriously wrong when Shirley is the only judge on the panel to turn against a celeb for a single dance - giving them scathing feedback because they're a young woman when Lacey struggles with her self confidence,” one said.
“Shirley needs to leave the show next year and we need a new head judge - someone who doesn't share Shirley's hatred towards women and gives feedback/criticism that is fair honest and constructive and not downright manipulate and patronising.”
Another agreed: “Rinse and repeat with Shirley, has her favourites and her targets, she is vile. Lacey smashed that for a non professional and week 5, swerve the shoe and give Shirley the boot, it's predictable and boring now.” A third suggested Janette Manrara as her replacement, adding: “Shirley is definitely past her sell by date on this show.”
A fourth echoed: “Sometimes it is not what you say but how you say it. I don't think that was the right way for Shirley to say what she said. I'd make Craig head judge and bring in either Erin Boag or Camilla Dallerup as a judge.”
Offering their own scathing critique of the judge, another said: “Shirley drags the tone of the show down every year with her feedback because she just randomly goes pretty harsh forgetting that the show is just entertainment and people really putting themselves out there. She can really pull confidence into the gutter.”
Someone else fumed: “Shirley complains about the hate she receives on line she needs to watch a show back and realise how nasty she is, there was nothing constructive said about Lacey it was pure hate delivered in a condescending tone, pot/kettle, she needs to go.”
