Strictly Come Dancing fans have voiced frustration over the show's scoring in Week 7, with viewers claiming 'something's off' as Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin topped the leaderboard and Bethany Antonia was eliminated.
Last Saturday's November 7 episode represented Week 7 of this year's Strictly Come Dancing, signalling the halfway mark of the contest. The evening showcased impressive routines, significant score variations amongst the judging panel, and one injury-forced withdrawal.
Dani Dyer tops leaderboard
Dani Dyer and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin secured first place on the leaderboard with their closing performance on the BBC show. They claimed the top position as they finished the programme with an American Smooth to "It Had to Be You" by Harry Connick Jr. The duo accumulated 36 points (8, 10, 9, 9 from the judges), achieving their maiden 10 of the series from Motsi Mabuse and receiving a standing ovation from Shirley Ballas.
Tabby Stoecker was equally impressive as she and dance partner Mark Karmalita executed a precise Paso Doble to Muse's "Supermassive Black Hole," trailing narrowly with 33 points.
Bottom of the leaderboard and elimination
Meanwhile, YouTuber John Nellis and Katya Jones and Love Island star Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby shared bottom position with 26 points apiece.
Despite avoiding the bottom two on the leaderboard, Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu were sent home during Sunday night's October 8 results programme following a dance-off with Cach and Maddie. The judges divided evenly, leaving Head Judge Shirley Ballas to deliver the crucial vote – with the star opting to save Cach.
Fan reactions on social media
Posting on Instagram following Saturday's broadcast, one Strictly fan admitted he couldn't shake the feeling that 'something's off' with the show currently. Addressing his 2,800 Instagram followers, Jordan Cant said in a reel: "What was up with that of Strictly? Because I've come away feeling a little bit deflated."
"Like, there would be a great dance, and I'd be like 'Yeah, that was so fun', and then Craig (Revel Horwood) pulls up a 4, and I'm like, 'Huh?'" Jordan highlighted several moments throughout the show that left him baffled, including dog trainer Graeme Hall 'not getting much love' for his Couple's Choice dance, even though he danced it really well.
He added: "I have a theory that there's too many themed weeks going on, which has made every other week feel like it's falling a little flat." Jordan pointed out that truly polished performances typically don't emerge until Blackpool week, making the tough scoring all the more puzzling to him. "I was really enjoying all the dancing and then it just felt like the tone would be brought down every time they got judged," he said.
Viewers agree with the criticism
The post garnered hundreds of likes, with numerous fellow Strictly enthusiasts voicing their agreement in the comments section. One person wrote: "Loved the show, but the scores are all over the place."
While another agreed: "I don't think it was necessarily the best night of dancing but Craig giving out such low scores really killed the mood! Also it makes zero sense how the same dance can get a 4 and a 9?!" A third chimed in: "It was so off." While a fourth added: "The week after a themed week there always seems to be a slump in scores like this, definitely too many themed weeks this year."
This week also saw Jaime Winstone and partner Carlos Gu missing after she suffered a torn abdominal muscle in rehearsals. The pair have been granted a pass into the following week, as per Strictly rules.
