Pete Wicks defends BBC Strictly’s Jowita Przystal after lift controversy as Craig Revel Horwood calls for disqualification
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal discuss their illegal lifts on Strictly
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks finally addressed Craig Revel Horwood’s comments towards their performance on Saturday night – claiming they should have been disqualified.
Wicks and professional partner Jowita Przystal performed the Rumba and added in two “illegal” lifts, which Shirley Ballas decided to overlook.
However, hard-faced Horwood wasn’t as easygoing on the couple, as he slammed their choice to add the lifts and claimed they should be disqualified.
He slammed: “The lifts, that is totally illegal, there were two lifts. One foot should remain on the floor at all times, of course, it is up to the professional if they want to lose marks for that.
“And of course, you will be marked down for that. I think even a disqualification darling... But I am not head judge so there you are.
“I have an issue with that because I think you should follow the rules.”
Craig called for their dance to be disqualified after adding in two "illegal" lifts
BBC
Tonight, the couple joined It Takes Two host Janette Manrara where they discussed the comment from Horwood, leaving Wicks to fiercely defend his partner.
Manrara began: “Jowita, let’s talk lifts. Craig was adamant that they were totally illegal but Shirley decided to kind of overlook it. Why did you put them in in the first place?”
She honestly revealed: “Um, first of all, it’s just because my legs are too short and that is the reason why they didn’t reach the floor.”
“It is very hard dancing with a borrower,” Wicks interjected to try and lighten the mood before Przystal continued: “But you know what...
The couple performed the Rumba on Saturday night
BBC
“The truth is we tried it and it was just so beautiful that I didn’t want to bother about ‘Let’s bend the knees two more centimetres down so my foot can reach the floor’, it was all about the feelings and the storyline.”
Wicks defended their decision and added: “I don’t think you should get any blame for that, as far as I am concerned that is the dance so far that I have enjoyed the most surprisingly.
“Because I felt like I was just dancing as me, rather than trying to remember steps and that is the first time I have done that.
“I was just going with it, just trying to just dance without thinking about it and that’s why we did it because it felt right.”
Horwood doubled down on his decision to call for a disqualification during the Pride of Britain awards on Tuesday night.
When asked if he still stuck by his decision, he told The Sun: “Of course. That will never happen though, will it?
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Jowita Przystal noted that the lifts were due to her being too small
BBC
“I don’t think we’ve ever really disqualified anyone, but at least we can mark them down if they do do something illegal, so that’s sort of my point.”
This weekend, the couple will be performing the Viennese Waltz to That's Life by Frank Sinatra for the Halloween Special.
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