Strictly Come Dancing's Will Best and Dianne Buswell impressed the judges on week five's live show (October 24), but viewers were distracted by a mid-routine timing error.
The pair performed an energetic Cha Cha to a track titled "Daddy". Before the dance, viewers saw Dianne and Will together in a café with his newborn, Sonny Best. Will and his fiancée Tobi Rose welcomed their baby on the morning of Sunday, October 11. The new parents manoeuvred old-fashioned prams around the floor as baby sound effects played throughout, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Timing Issue Sparks Fan Reaction
The couple hit a major timing issue in the middle of the song, stepping completely out of time with each other. Fans rushed to social media, noticing the "panic" on Dianne's face during the blunder. One fan said: "I mean, it really was an off-putting mistake, though. Dianne literally reached out to grab hold of Will Best. Hold onto the baby!!"
Another added: "Can’t deal with Dianne trying to signal to will mid dance that he wasn’t in time." A third chimed in: "Dianne didn’t cover Will’s footwork mistakes up very well - she drew my attention to it looking down at his feet… A shame because he was doing well!" A fourth noticed: "You can see the panic in Dianne’s face."
Judges' Verdicts and Scores
Shirley Ballas flagged a missed Cuban break but was otherwise delighted. She said: "You missed your Cuban break, it's a small mistake, but I'm so entertained by you. Your feet were at five-to-one, your body action is starting to get fluidity...You're going to be a force to be reckoned with."
Anton Du Beke commended his progression since his week-one Samba, highlighting his straight legs, arm positioning and rhythmic hip movement. Motsi Mabuse applauded his solo opening and swift footwork, describing him as "one to watch."
When the paddles were raised, Craig Revel Horwood awarded a seven, while Motsi, Shirley, and Anton each gave an eight, securing the duo a total of 31.
Fans Debate Judging Consistency
Fans also suggested the judging appeared inconsistent compared to other contestants. One X user stated: "I love Will, but how come Lawrence got a really hard time for his mistakes yet Will didn't? So inconsistent."
Not everyone concurred, however. Other supporters defended the performance, maintaining that despite the apparent stumble, Will demonstrated himself as one of the competition's finest dancers. One noted: "What a brilliant Cha Cha from Will and Dianne. Will is such a natural mover and he's incredibly entertaining. A little mistake, hence the slight deduction, but that was a great dance."
A further viewer agreed: "Will did really well in the Cha Cha - hips good and straight legs, love watching him. Worth an 8!"
