Strictly fans spot 'dig' at axed judge as 'shade is thrown' during opening song

Strictly Come Dancing kicked off Movie Week on Saturday with a much-loved Disney song performance - but viewers are convinced shade was thrown at an axed judge.

The professional dancers performed a routine to the Encanto movie's popular song 'We Don't Talk About Bruno'. However, some viewers read into the song choice and were convinced the song was a dig about former judge Bruno Tonioli who left the hit BBC show last year.

And after the routine, Strictly host Claudia Winkleman even made a little joke about the former judge telling the audience: "We still talk about Bruno... all the time." Many viewers took to Twitter claiming the song was chosen on purpose as a nod to Bruno.

Read more: Strictly viewers slam Giovanni Pernice's 'cheap' outfit 'bought straight off Amazon'

One person said: "The #BBC #Strictly throwing shade at Bruno with the starting we don't talk about Bruno," while another said: "This opening number is also doubling as Bruno Tonioli’s leaving party." A third said: "The irony of not talking about Bruno on #Strictly lost on none of us."

Karen Hauer and Graziano Di Prima during the live show of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1 (PA Media)

Other viewers were expecting a surprise appearance from Bruno himself but were disappointed when there was no sign of him. One person tweeted: "If Bruno Tonioli doesn't burst out of that door this was a waste of time."

Anton du Beke took Bruno's place on Strictly's judging panel full-time after he stepped down. Bruno had been absent from the previous series, as he resides in America and it was impossible for him to fly back and forth amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Movie Week saw a number of wild and wacky outfits but fans were extra critical of Richie Anderson's and Giovanni Pernice's outfits as they dressed up as Timon and Pumbaa for their Samba to Hakuna Matata.

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