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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jasmine Allday

Strictly voting blunder as Shirley Ballas forced to confirm score in live show mishap

Strictly Come Dancing's Shirley Ballas was forced to confirm her score after a blunder on the BBC One show.

The BBC One Latin and ballroom show returned to our screens this evening for the first live show, but they were hit with a voting blunder just minutes into the programme. Host Claudia Winkleman had to confirm with Shirley what her score was.

As she was giving her verdict on Tyler West and his partner Dianne Buswell's American Smooth to Falling by Harry Styles, Shirley praised the radio DJ for his performance. She was keen to reflect that in the scores but made a blunder as she did.

Shirley was giving her verdict on Tyler's performance (BBC)

Giving her score, Shirley said it was worth a seven - a high mark for the first week, but the paddle she held up didn't seem to confirm that, so Claudia was forced to go back and double check Shirley's score.

From the green room upstairs, Shirley was asked by Claudia what she wanted to score Tyler, and she replied and confirmed it was a 7, meaning he had a total score of 21. Anton awarded 6, Craig a 4, and Motsi a 5.

She wanted to score a seven (BBC)

Four judges - Shirley Ballas as head judge, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton du Beke - sit on the panel to give their professional opinions on the dances and their all important marks!

Their marks are added with that of the voting public at home, so the judges have a huge hand in who goes through - and who faces the chop. Whilst no one goes home this week, their scores will be carried through to next week.

Anton has made a permanent switch to the judging panel for this series, having appeared on the show as a professional dancer in the past. Whilst he admits he gets a bit envious of the other pro dancers, he joked the judging role is much easier for him - at least when it comes to his joints and muscles.

Shirley was delighted to confirm she was scoring a seven to Tyler and Dianne! (BBC)

"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. My favourite thing about the show is the joy it brings everybody, the joy it brings my family and the joy it brings me," he said.

"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."

Shirley added ahead of this series: "I think people keep tuning in because it's a family affair. It's something to look forward to on cold winter nights. It's a bit of Vegas, glitz and glamour, glitterballs, bangles and beads."

*Strictly Come Dancing returns live at 6:30pm on Saturday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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