Strictly Come Dancing viewers have rallied behind Lacey Turner after judges' comments left the EastEnders star looking close to tears. The 38-year-old and her professional partner Vito Coppola performed a Foxtrot to 'Have You Met Miss Jones?' on the BBC show, with fans noting she appeared more relaxed than in previous weeks.
Judges' Criticism Sparks Backlash
Anton Du Beke suggested the routine resembled an American Smooth more than a Foxtrot, telling Lacey her frame was 'breaking down a little bit too much'. He said he felt 'torn between a rock and a hard place', prompting boos from the studio audience.
Craig Revel Horwood, known as the panel's harshest judge, bluntly stated: 'It wasn't a Foxtrot, so I don't know how we're meant to judge it.' He added: 'There were, literally, what was it, eight bars Shirley. 10 bars of Foxtrot. Foxtrot is not an open dance. I mean, you could have saved this for an American Smooth.'
Vito Coppola Defends Choreography
Vito responded by explaining that in a Foxtrot, dancers can perform 70% in that style and 30% departing from the traditional dance. Craig replied, 'It wasn't equal darling,' as Lacey looked increasingly upset.
The professional dancer told Craig: 'I respect you so, so much. I do. But I take the full responsibility because I create the choreography, so the responsibility is ours as a pro.' Turning to Lacey, he added: 'So you don't have anything to worry about. You've been amazing. You're beautiful. And I'm so, so proud of you.'
Fans Rally Behind Lacey and Vito
Lacey and Vito received a total score of 27, placing them at the bottom of the leaderboard alongside Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley, and Will Best and Dianne Buswell.
Fans took to social media to express their support. CeeceeNeill15 wrote on X: 'Back off Vito and Lacey. Poor Lacey is on the verge of tears. Well done Vito for standing up to Craig it was a beautiful dance and I loved it. Undermarked again.' kelliebroono claimed: 'That was a shambles of a score for Lacey!!!! She is so undermarked!!' while JohnKingDerry1 called her scores 'utterly disgraceful'.
ifeelflames tweeted: 'It seems cruel to mark Lacey down when she danced so well, by all means comment on the choreography and remind the pro what you expect, but marking down a really good dancer & putting them in danger of going home seems unfair.'
Hannahfun1 criticised the judges for focusing on 'illegal moves' while overlooking mistakes in other performances. Another fan wrote: 'That felt like such a shame for Lacey. She did everything she could with what she was given and looked right at home for maybe the first time and that's all been lost.'
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday and Sunday nights on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Viewers will find out if Lacey and Vito have been saved from the dance-off.
