Strictly Come Dancing fans were left baffled during the latest live episode of the BBC dance contest, with viewers saying 'something needs to change' as the judges came under fire over inconsistent scoring.
Week seven of the BBC One show took place on Saturday night (November 7), but the competition was one couple short after Jaime Winstone suffered an injury which forced her out of her latest performance. The actress and her professional dance partner, Carlos Gu, received a bye to next week's show, when it is hoped she will rejoin the programme after suffering a torn abdominal muscle.
Hosts explain Jaime Winstone's absence
Speaking at the start of the show, host Josh Widdicombe said: "Now unfortunately we are missing one couple, Jaime and Carlos. Jaime has been advised not to perform this weekend on medical grounds – under the rules of the competition, she receives a bye through to next week."
Fellow host Emma Willis added: "Now Jaime, we know that you're watching from home tonight, we miss you so much and we are sending you all of our love, and we hope you get better soon."
First dances and leaderboard toppers
The first to dance was Big Brother presenter Will Best and his professional partner Dianne Buswell, who performed the quickstep to Maroon 5's This Love, scoring 29 out of a possible 40. Judge Craig Revel Horwood said the performance needed "slight improvements" while fellow judge Anton Du Beke said Best "looked so lovely". Head judge Shirley Ballas added: "This is a definite improvement; we are working in the right direction, sir."
Topping the latest leaderboard was Dani Dyer after she scored her first 10 of the series with her professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin. The couple closed Saturday's live episode with their American smooth to It Had to Be You by Harry Connick Jr, scoring 36, with Shirley Ballas saying they did "exceptionally well" and standing to applaud them at its conclusion.
Fans react to scoring discrepancies
But Strictly fans could not concentrate on the performances as they were too stunned by the judges' scores. Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley performed a Couple's Choice to The Book of Love by Peter Gabriel, which was awarded a five from Craig, but eights from Motsi Mabuse and Anton. For their Waltz to That Ain't You by Mulaa Joans, Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby were given four points by Craig, while Motsi and Anton awarded eight points each.
Picking up on the large differences in scoring, fuming viewers branded it a 'mess'. @aguynamednicholas said: "Tonight was …. weird. Judges scores were all over the place." @405NORRIS commented: "Something needs to change because how can the same dance be scored 4 and 8#strictly." @archieb34 wrote: "Craig was in a strange mood. What was with those marks???? How is he giving a 6 and Anton is giving the same dance a 9???!!!!!"
@alexanderls3 shared: "This is genuinely the worst night of scoring I have ever, ever seen on Strictly… what the hell is going on??? Insane over marking, insane under marking, none of the judges agreeing… a complete mess #Strictly." @mebecauseofgu fumed: "judges get a GRIP?? what is this scoring tonight #strictly." @francescajayne_ added: "The judges comments are just dragging the show down this year. And the scoring is just all over the place. #Strictly #Strictly2026 #StrictlyComeDancing."
