Motsi Mabuse wasted no time interrupting fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood during Saturday’s first live Strictly Come Dancing of the series when he branded one aspect of JB Gill and Amy Dowden’s dance “extremely ugly”.
The JLS singer and Welsh professional dancer took to the ballroom for the first time to perform an impressive Waltz for the four judges.
Both Gill and Dowden were beaming when they made their way over to host Tess Daly to hear the judges’ critiques – but despite the raucous applause from the audience, Revel Horwood wasn’t too impressed.
“Craig, thumbs-up or thumbs-down?” Daly asked, to which the longets serving judge replied: “Actually, in hold, your hand was very, very, very good…
“It’s only when you went out of hold that it sometimes bevame just a pointed finger, or it became like this…”
Revel Horwood mimicked a rigid frame before he continued: “Which was extremely ugly.”
As boos rang out around the crowd, Mabuse decided to follow suit: “It’s week one! Week one! Babes, babes, babes, babes!
“It’s week one, save it for later,” Mabuse said as she shut her co-star down to applause from the audience.
Revel Horwood could only stare back blankly as Mabuse then took the reins: “Give us space for joy!
“I absolutely loved that. Attention to detail, week one,” Mabuse added as she snapped her fingers in Revel Horwood’s face.
She went on: “I absolutely loved the way, both of you (concentrated) right at the beginning, the usage of your body, moving… and it’s so good to see you dancing again!”
Ballas weighed in: “Amy, you’re home where you belong and I have to say that choreography was absolutely outstanding.”
Once more, applause filled the ballroom before the Strictly head judge continued: “I just wanna say, you know me Amy, I have lots of boxes to tick.
“Footwork was lovely, the soft leg action was lovely, the connection in the body, the frame, the position, the movement to music…
“You sir, are a diamond! And this is gonna be an absolute epic partnership.”
Du Beke echoed the kind words of Mabuse and Ballas – albeit with his usual blend of sound effects and inaudible gestures.
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Their first dance was a poignant one as it not only marked Gill’s first foray onto the dancefloor but marked a welcome return to the ballroom for Dowden.
The Welsh pro dancer had to miss out on the last series of Strictly after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
However, following treatment, Dowden confirmed earlier this year there was no longer evidence of disease.
