Shirley Ballas ruffled feathers on Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing over her critique of Ellie Taylor's cha cha cha to The Shoop Shoop Song. After comedian Ellie and her partner Johannes Radebe paid homage to Cher in the film Mermaids for Movie Week, the head judge came under fire for scolding Ellie.
Before marking Ellie a five out of 10 points, Shirley tapped on the table emphatically as she exclaimed that she wasn't accepting 'heel leads' from now onwards in the BBC dance contest. “No heel leads," she said firmly.
"We are going into week three. You did a natural top, and the first step of every step was a heel lead. So as from today, I’m not accepting - and that goes for everybody else - I am not accepting any heel leads.”
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Some fans took to Twitter to complain that Shirley Ballas was too critical. After she delivered her critique host Tess Daly said Shirley’s comments were “very strict."
@Angel_Rc22 tweeted: "Shirley has her favourites and Ellie T isn't one of them. Thought the tone of her comments was like a teacher telling off a child."
@BethanMarsden wrote: "Shirley needs to remember she’s judging non-dancers here and not to mention it’s WEEK 3!! Talking to Ellie like that was completely unnecessary and rude. @EllieJaneTaylor you were amazing."
@angrykilljoy1 said: "I’m not gonna mention it again but the ridiculous over marking of Ritchie by Shirley has ruined tonight’s show for me. Rude to Ellie. She wasn’t great but she was still better than that."
@MrsGriffMusic asked: "Why is Shirley so rude to Ellie Taylor?" And @natalieguest12 tweeted: "Why is Shirley so unnecessarily rude to Ellie Taylor?"
Strictly Come Dancing viewers later praised professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin after he spoke out following his routine with Paralympic athlete Ellie Simmonds. Shirley admitted that the swimming champion needed to "work on footwork" but awarded her seven points for their quickstep.
As Ellie and Nikita spoke to host Claudia Winkleman, Nikita said: "I’m just a little bit confused, because Shirley said previously to Ellie T that everything must be a point. So Ellie S thought 'oh, for ballroom as well?'."
Nikita's comment appeared to suggest that Shirley’s earlier comment had left his dance partner confused about her footwork as heel leads are allowed in ballroom, but not Latin. Nikita added: “But it’s heel (first) in ballroom. So we got a bit confused there."
@safesoundxswift tweeted: "Nikita coming for Shirley is immaculate." @CathPoucher commented: "Still not over Nikita calling out Shirley’s judging. Waited years for that THANK YOU NIKITA."
And @Wandoful commented: "NOT NIKITA CALLING OUT SHIRLEY ON HER CRITICISM OF HEEL LEADS FROM ELLIE TAYLOR AND PRAISE OF THEM FOR ELLIE SIMMONDS I am deceased."
But @Tomhayess_replied: "No Ellie S got confused from a critique Shirley made relating to Latin which Ellie S thought was the same for ballroom - but it isn’t." And @limajamjam said: "All Nikita said was that Ellie got confused because she’d heard from Shirley earlier that she didn’t want to see heel leads in LATIN, they danced ballroom so obv the footwork is different."
On Thursday night Shirley attended the Legends of Industry Awards at Manchester's Hilton Hotel on Deansgate to celebrate those who have achieved outstanding success in their chosen fields of business and industry while raising funds for Variety, the Children’s Charity to support sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people.
Shirley, who is known as 'The Queen of Latin' recognised as one of the most successful professional Latin American dancers in the world having won a host of titles, won the Variety award for choreography and dance.
Coronation Street icon Helen Worth, who plays the soap's Gail Platt, won the accolade for Acting and TV, comedian Ruby Wax won the award for Comedy and TV, British former javelin thrower Tessa Sanderson won the Athletics accolade, TV image consultant Gok Wan won the Fashion and Style trophy and football pundit and podcaster Chris Kamara won the Sports Presenting Award. Salford tenor and former I'm a Celebrity star Russell Watson thrilled the audience when he gave an impromptu performance after receiving his award for services to operatic music.
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