Chris McCausland applauded for savage Craig Revel Horwood comeback after BBC Strictly criticism: 'Shut him down!'

And the pair were met with a standing ovation after pulling off their debut routine without a hiccup, even throwing in some lifts and high-risk moves along the way.

But when Tess Daly turned to Revel Horwood to critique the routine first, the mood changed: "The shoulders unfortunately were..."

The long-serving Strictly judge was drowned out by booing before he continued: "Your neck was lurching forward, you were picking up your feet way too much, there was not a straight leg in the building..."

At this point, both Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse cut him off as they leaped to McCausland and Dianne Buswell's defence.

"That's not true!" Ballas interjected. "His whole first walk he straightened his legs, we were deliberately looking for it.

"And he rotated his base and he was on a straight leg! And he had an awareness..."

"He was on fire! I don't agree," Mabuse echoed as she took aim at Revel Horwood. "I was listening to you and I was like okay, okay and then you said that stuff with the straight leg and I was like, 'No, Craig! We need to get this!'"

Turning to McCausland she went on: "I honestly hope you felt the energy in the room because you're the first person that has been on the dancefloor and you gave everything, I didn't feel the nerves, you brought joy to the room."

Ballas chipped back in: "I saw the straight legs at the beginning. I really didn't know what to expect.

"You had lifts, just to take her between your legs... you have to time that, it's hard enough as it is. You had great skills when it came to listening to your partner.

"Technique? It's week one, everybody needs to be strong in the technique but that was for me - actually I'm quite shocked and very emotional - fabulous."

Anton Du Beke was also emotional: "Do you know? It's one of the most extraordinary things I've ever seen in my entire life.

"That thing at the end when you twirl her around under your legs, I've tried that... I don't wanna go anywhere near that step. Just brilliant."

Daly then turned to McCausland for his reaction to the judges' comments where he brilliantly hit back at Revel Horwood: "Do you know what, Craig, I am literally too knackered to care, mate.

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"You can say what you want, I am not fussed. I'll drive you home tonight."

Laughter erupted in the studio and moments later, McCausland and Buswell were awarded a total of 23 points.

This left them joint sixth on the leaderboard, behind JB Gill, Tasha Ghouri, Sarah Hadland, Montell Douglas, and Wynne Evans.

The score was tied with Sam Quek, Jamie Borthwick, and Tom Dean while the likes of Shayne Ward, Punam Krishan, Nick Knowles, Paul Merson, Pete Wicks and Toyah Willcox completed the leaderboard.

McCausland's remarks went down a storm with X users watching at home, with one reacting the moment: "Chris offers to give Craig Revel Norwood a lift home #Strictly," followed by a series of laughing emojis.

"'I'll drive you home tonight' from Chris to Craig is f***ing comedy gold #StrictlyComeDancing #strictly," added a second.

Meanwhile, a third said: "Ye Chris I’m too tired to care mate to Craig ... guy shut him down straight away #Strictly."

"Chris offering to drive Craig home tonight #Strictly," a fourth added with a series of laughing emojis.