Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood was quick to defend his scoring of Angela Rippon during Sunday's results show after it sparked controversy with BBC viewers.
Rippon and pro partner Kai Widdrington had earned an impressive score of 33 for their Charleston on Saturday evening with Revel Horwood the highest-scoring judge as he lifted the nine paddle.
Revel Horwood also gave leaderboard-topping Ellie Leach a nine while he dished out measly scores of sixes to the likes of Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Bobby Brazier.
Soon after he gave the score to Rippon, Revel Horwood became the target of "fix" claims on X, formerly Twitter, due to the fact his fellow judges only scored her eight apiece.
"I’m sorry how did Angela get a 9 from Craig when he only gave Bobby a 6?!? It’s such a fix! #strictly," one fan fumed while a second echoed: "Not worth 33 points. If she wins, it's a fix. #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing."
Social media was awash with similar complaints but when Claudia Winkleman probed the Strictly judge about the scores on Sunday's results show, he stood his ground and defended the 79-year-old's routine.
Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington scored 33 for their Charleston
BBC
"Something happened on Saturday night, because Angela and Kai danced and you scored higher than your fellow judges," Winkleman teased. "What I want to ask you genuinely is... is everything alright?"
"The demons came out darling," Revel Horwood said with a laugh before he turned his attention to more serious matters.
He continued: "No, I loved it. It’s a matter of opinion, I think, and that’s why there are four judges and sometimes I will like these types of dances more than maybe the strictly ballroom ones.
"You know that's why there are our very obvious and different opinions about things."
He continued: "What’s so difficult about that dance is not just the swivel but all the intricate timings as well.
"She danced with complete and absolute ease, you know, and that is difficult."
Slapping down any suggestion of preferential treatment, Revel Horwood concluded: "I’m not giving Angela a nine because she’s 79, I think it was worth a nine, I absolutely loved it."
His defence of Rippon - who'd been given a huge helping hand during her preparations for Halloween week - earned a raucous round of applause from the Strictly Come Dancing live audience and BBC viewers clearly felt the same as Rippon managed to avoid the dreaded dance-off.
Instead, it was left to Adam Thomas and Zara McDermott to compete for their spot in the competition following the result of the public vote.
Sadly for McDermott, it wasn't third time lucky in the dance-off as the former Love Island star was the one to be sent home.
She'd previously seen off Nikita Kanda and Eddie Kadi in two dance-offs but the judges voted to give Thomas and his partner Luba Mushtuk another chance in the competition.
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The Strictly judges teased Craig about his scoring of Angela Rippon
BBC
In a lengthy farewell post on Instagram, McDermott said: "I knew this day would come and I tried to prepare myself as best I could for it, but the reality is I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet.
"I first dreamt of dancing on Strictly when I was 7 years old, dancing round the living room wearing my little dress and wishing I could be one of the 'princesses' that I saw on screen. Little did I know that it would one day become a reality, and I’d have got myself half way through the competition.
"I’ve never been a dancer, or a performer, I’ve always been self conscious, so I knew that this was going to be a huge challenge physically and mentally, yet it was a challenge I absolutely wanted to take on.
"However, from the day I met you Graz, you told me every day that I am strong, beautiful and confident. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I know that we were meant to be friends for life.
"You have taught me so much about myself and our laughter every single day has brought me so much joy. I never got bored of spending over 12 hours a day with you, and your work ethic has inspired me beyond words.
"You made me believe in myself in those moments that I absolutely didn’t and the bond we have built is truly an unbreakable one.
"I want to wish my fellow contestants a truly magical experience for the remainder of the show; they are the best bunch of people I’ve ever met, each one of them so individually unique and wonderful in their own way.
"I also want to thank all the incredible people that work behind the scenes to make this show happen. You wouldn’t believe how hard these people work, the production team, hair, makeup, wardrobe; it was an honour and a privilege to be a part of something so iconic and magical.
"I am forever grateful to every single one of you who made my Strictly experience one that I will think about with a HUGE smile on my face every day for the rest of my life." (sic)
