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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zara Woodcock

Strictly fans suspect shade thrown at axed judge as show opens with Disney song

Strictly Come Dancing viewers suspected the show 'threw shade' at former judge Bruno Tonioli during tonight's opening routine.

Movie Week started with the professional dancers performing a routine to the Encanto movie's popular song We Don't Talk About Bruno.

Following the routine, Strictly host Claudia Winkleman made a little joke about former judge Bruno.

"We still talk about Bruno... all the time," she told the audience.

Fans were convinced the song was picked on purpose and took to Twitter to comment on it.

"Starting off with "We don't talk about Bruno" lol," one user said while another added: "The #BBC #Strictly throwing shade at Bruno with the starting we don't talk about Bruno."

The professionals danced to We Don't Talk About Bruno (BBC)

One viewer posted: "This music choice is somewhat ironic given that @bbcstrictly don't really talk about Bruno anymore."

"We don't talk about Bruno after him leaving," another said along with a gif of The Office's Kevin laughing.

Anton du Beke took Bruno's place on the 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.

Of being a judge, Anton said: "I'm loving it. I do watch some of the pros and get a bit of dance envy, thinking, 'I wish I could have been a part of that'. But judging is so much easier on the knees.

Bruno (right) stepped down from the show (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

"My favourite thing about the show is the joy it brings everybody, the joy it brings my family and the joy it brings me. I love that feeling of lifting everybody up, which I think was highlighted through lockdown. I can't believe, well I can, it has been going for so long and we have a new audience coming every year."

Movie Week saw Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice dress up as Timon and Pumbaa for their Samba to Hakuna Matata.

However, fans thought their outfits were 'unforgivable'.

The duo were dressed up as a meerkat and warthog, with Giovanni given a larger belly as part of the costume.

Movie Week had Giovanni and Richard wear 'unforgivable outfits' (BBC)

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As she gave her verdict, Shirley admitted she didn't think she'd look at Giovanni in the same way after his outfit choice, but praised the dance as one of their "best numbers" so far, whilst Anton called it "wonderful".

Taking to Twitter, fans couldn't help but comment on the outfits they had been given to wear.

"Those Timon and Pumbaa onesies are unforgivable #Strictly," one wrote, as a second added: "Why do they have to make some couples look like idiots? #Strictly."

A third shared: "Embarrassing for Geo. I feel it's got a bit ridiculous now. He's clearly not happy."

Meanwhile, Kym Marsh and her professional partner Graziano di Prima took to the floor to perform their Charleston to If My Friends Could See Me Now from Sweet Charity.

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