Strictly fans divided on 'genius' routine that 'doesn't deserve a place' on show

20 November 2023 , 07:18

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BBC Strictly Come Dancing viewers slam routine that 'doesn't deserve a place' on show

A few unhappy Strictly Come Dancing viewers slammed a dance routine as they claimed it "didn't deserve a place" on the show.

During the recent live show, the remaining couples showed off their incredible skills as they swapped the Strictly studio for Blackpool's Tower Ballroom. Viewers were vibing to the opening number and Bobby Brazier and dance partner Dianne Buswell's amazing jive.

However, Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin caused a huge divide among fans when they performed their pole-based couple's choice routine to Christina Aguilera's Ain't No Other Man. Some fans might have been unhappy with the routine, but judges were obsessed with the duo's creativity.

Receiving a whopping 39 points, Craig Revel Horwood told Layton: "This is a little bit of a dilemma for me because I loved it, number one, but it wasn’t entirely in sync. That being said, you are one of the most incredible dancers that I have seen on this show over the 20 years I’ve been doing it."

Fans were divided about the creative routine

Shirley Ballas said: "Well you know, for me, it takes a lot, really, to impress me, but this really is creative genius." Viewers rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their opinions on the creative routine. One user posted: "That weird pole dancing, strip show horror does not deserve a place on the Blackpool ballroom floor #Strictly."

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"Nobody is watching #Strictly in Blackpool to see pole dancing. I hate the Couple’s Choice concept," another concerned user commented. Many rushed to defend the performance and dubbed pole dancing as an 'art form'. "To the people saying that was inappropriate, pole dancing in a form of dancing, it is an art form. It doesn’t need to have sexual connotations just stfu," one frustrated user wrote.

Another added: "A mixture of theatre and pole-work (which is DAMN hard) and synchronised dancing, Layton and Nikita deserve straight tens just for the ATTEMPT #strictly." Some noticed that professional dancer Nikita was 'stiff' during the performance and questioned whether he was injured.

One concerned user asked: "First thing he’s done I didn’t like. All about how flexible he is and ticks he can do. He pulled focus too much. Craig was right. Nikita held back, is he injured?" while another wrote: "He was wearing a brace during rehearsals and you could see it when they were dancing, his right knee was restricted."

Meanwhile, the show aired its eighth elimination on Sunday night amid the show's iconic Blackpool week. During the results show, Angela Rippon became the latest star to depart the show after she faced Bobby Brazier in the dreaded dance-off. Angela, 79, and pro partner Kai Widdrington performed their American Smooth to Tea For Two by Ella Fitzgerald while Bobby, 20, and pro partner Dianne Buswell performed their Jive to Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham!

However, despite both couples dancing beautifully, the judges unanimously decided to save Bobby and Dianne, meaning Angela and Kai would be leaving the competition.

Zara Woodcock