Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse has launched a passionate criticism of the show’s judging panel after watching what she described as the most frustrating episode in the programme’s history.
The two-time Strictly champion, who lifted the Glitterball Trophy with Kelvin Fletcher in 2019 and comedian Bill Bailey in 2020, took to TikTok following Saturday night’s live show on November 7 to share her disappointment with the judges’ scoring.
Oti particularly questioned why several celebrities appeared to receive lower marks than their performances deserved. She explained that she felt many contestants had been underscored and wanted the judging panel to provide clearer explanations for their decisions.
Speaking about the scores, she said: “Ultimately, I just thought a lot of the dances were underscored.”
She also questioned whether the judges were properly considering each individual couple when awarding their marks, adding that viewers needed to understand why certain scores were being given.
Oti did not stop at criticising the numbers. She also called on the panel to provide more constructive feedback so contestants could understand where they needed to improve.
“Y’all need to tell people how to get better,” she insisted.
Her comments came after a particularly divisive live show, during which Dani Dyer and professional partner Nikita Kuzmin topped the leaderboard with an impressive 36 points.
Meanwhile, John Nellis and Katya Jones, alongside Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby, found themselves joint bottom with just 26 points.
Craig Revel Horwood also attracted criticism from viewers over his scores for several contestants, including Cach and EastEnders actress Lacey Turner.
Oti’s intervention has added another layer to the growing debate surrounding Strictly’s judging standards, with viewers questioning whether the panel’s feedback and scoring are consistent.
With the competition heading towards its highly anticipated Blackpool special, the pressure is mounting on both the celebrities and the judges to deliver performances and decisions that viewers can get behind.
