Strictly Come Dancing fans have been left fuming and some even claiming that show producers are sabotaging the celebrities with their song choices.
During the launch show, it was revealed that Merson and his partner Karen Hauer were performing the American Smooth to football song Vindaloo by Fat Les, which sparked some negative response from the 56-year-old and viewers at home.
The performance was dubbed “special” and “different” by the judges, but viewers at home have criticised the unexpected song choice for making Merson the “laughing stock” of the season.
A source reportedly told the Mail Online that the former footballer’s reaction had to be “re-recorded” due to his negative response: “You can’t blame him for thinking he is being set up to the joke act. But also the connotations of it [the song] are also not exactly positive either.”
It seems that show producers have once again infuriated long-term fans after It Takes Two host Janette Manrara revealed that Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk were performing the American Smooth to Park Life by Blur for their week two American Smooth.
Discussing how they felt about the song choice and how they would work around Knowles’ current injury, Mushtuk revealed: “We still have a perfect position on our right arm, we are going to do perfect footwork in the Foxtrot, we might even do the lift on that arm! I will work around it! I will make it work!”
An American Smooth to Park Life? Really? I love the American Smooth so please #Strictly producers CHOOSE SONGS THAT FIT THE DAMN DANCE!! 🙄 #ItTakesTwo
— Siobhan 🇬🇬 (@slinehan1) September 23, 2024
The DIY SOS sauce teased: “Luckily I am very big and Luba is very light so one arm lifts!”
Fans were quick to comment on the song choice through their social media, with one slamming on X: “What’s with the terrible song choices for American Smooths so far this series #Strictly #ItTakesTwo.”
“Who is in charge of music this year??? #strictly #ittakestwo,” another asked before a third said: “An American Smooth to Park Life? Really? I love the American Smooth so please #Strictly producers CHOOSE SONGS THAT FIT THE DAMN DANCE!! #ItTakesTwo.”
Someone else noted: “First Paul Merson and Vindaloo, now Nick Knowles is doing an American Smooth to Parklife. Seriously have #strictly sacked all their producers and replaced them with people who don’t know what an American Smooth is cos what the f**k are these song choices #ItTakesTwo.” (sic)
Knowles is currently unsure whether he will be able to compete on Saturday after the star suffered an arm injury over the weekend.
He explained to East: “Okay so it was my birthday on Saturday and I had a big birthday get-together on Sunday.
“I went to get my 10-year-old son and bring him back to the party but we broke down on the motorway with a flat tyre.
“It was raining and there were big lorries going past, I tried to do it quickly and change it quickly, and as I took the tyre off I damaged my bicep and damaged my arm. I just want to say thank you to the two policemen from Taplow who turned up and helped me get the tyre back on, they were lovely.
“Then I went on, I was like, ‘Okay I have hurt it, but it’s okay,’ and then it got worse and worse. I actually missed my birthday party because of being stuck on the motorway.”
“At this stage, we don’t know if you are going to be able to dance on Saturday,” Manrara said before Knowles interjected: “I’m hopeful! I will find out more tomorrow, but I am fully expecting to go into training and I am hopeful I will be dancing.”
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The day after Knowles appeared on It Takes Two to discover what he’d be dancing to, the show’s social media channels unveiled what the rest of the cast had up their sleeves.
The full list of week two routines is as follows:
Montell & Johannes – Samba to Fuego by Eleni FoureiraPunam & Gorka – Foxtrot to Man! I Feel Like A Woman! By Shania TwainSam & Nikita – Charleston to Bob Wilson and his Varsity Rhythm BoysSarah & Vito – Paso Doble to Freed From Desire by Gala, Molella, Phil JayTasha & Aljaz – Viennese Waltz to Misty Blue by Dorothy MooreToyah & Neil – Jive to Nutbush City Limits by Ike & Tina TurnerChris & Dianne – Foxtrot Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy by The TamsJamie & Michelle – Rumba to Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill WithersJB & Amy – Cha Cha to Closer by Ne-YoNick & Luba – American Smooth to Parklife by BlurPaul & Karen – Salsa to Fireball by Pitbull, John RyanPete & Jowita – American Smooth to I Had Some Help by Post Malone, Morgan WallenShayne & Nancy – Tango to The Door by Teddy SwimsTom & Nadiya – Cha Cha to Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind & FireWynne & Katya – Viennese Waltz to The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II
