Strictly Come Dancing viewers were treated to an unexpected twist during Saturday's Blackpool special when hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced the elimination had been cancelled - but eagle-eyed fans spotted the presenters struggling with the format changes throughout the show.
The Surprise Announcement That Started It All
The evening began with shocking news as Tess and Claudia revealed that none of the remaining six couples would face elimination this week. This unprecedented decision came after contestant La Voix was forced to withdraw from the competition due to injury, leaving the judges and producers to adjust the format at the last minute.
The drag queen performer, seen looking forlorn in the front row of the audience, later shared her devastation on Instagram, writing: "I'm absolutely devastated to be withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing. This isn't the glittering exit I ever imagined, and it breaks my heart to feel like I've let people down."
Presenter Blunders Take Centre Stage
As the show progressed, fans noticed several awkward moments from the usually flawless presenting duo. Tess Daly made the first slip-up while speaking to former Strictly finalist Ashley Roberts in the audience at Blackpool's iconic Tower Ballroom.
She accidentally revealed that Ashley would be performing "later on" when her performance was actually scheduled for the results show, which is typically presented as being filmed on Sunday. The moment was followed by a lengthy pause as Tess appeared to experience issues with her teleprompter.
Later in the episode, Claudia Winkleman made a similar mistake during her closing remarks. Instead of reminding viewers that nobody would be going home "tomorrow night", she stated that nobody would be eliminated "tonight" - accidentally revealing that the results show is pre-recorded on the same evening as the live performance, a fact lesser-known among casual viewers.
Fan Reactions and Social Media Buzz
Sharp-eyed viewers quickly took to social media platform X to share their observations of the presenting errors. One fan commented: "Oops, Claudia slipped up and said tonight instead of tomorrow night," while another joked: "Did Tess's batteries run out or something?"
A third viewer added humour to the situation by suggesting: "Someone needs to put 50p in Tess," highlighting the noticeable pauses and technical difficulties that seemed to plague the special episode.
Stunning Performances Despite the Drama
Despite the behind-the-scenes adjustments and presenting challenges, the celebrities delivered exceptional performances worthy of the Blackpool Tower Ballroom's legendary dance floor.
Lewis Cope and professional partner Katya Jones kicked off the show with a spectacular Charleston that earned them their second perfect score of 40 this series, making Lewis the first celebrity to achieve this milestone twice.
Balvinder Sopal, who had faced four dance-offs previously, impressed judges with a racy Argentine Tango that Motsi Mabuse described as a comeback performance, earning her highest score of the series with three eights and a nine.
The evening continued with standout performances from Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, who scored 36 for their Quickstep, and Lioness Karen Carney, whose dramatic Paso Doble received a standing ovation from both the audience and judges, earning an impressive 39 points.
Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe delivered a glamorous Couple's Choice routine scoring 35, while George Clarke and Alexis Warr closed the show with an energetic salsa that surprised judges and earned them their highest score yet of 39 points.
The Blackpool special, while marked by unexpected format changes and presenting challenges, ultimately showcased the incredible talent and resilience of both the celebrities and professional dancers, with all scores set to roll over to next week's competition.
