There’s been a lot of talk recently about Strictly judge Shirley Ballas and how she has a tendency to get contestants’ names wrong.
But on last night’s show, she made a different kind of gaffe – and it left her looking absolutely MORTIFIED.
Paralympian Jonnie Peacock and his professional partner Oti Mabuse had just danced a brilliant Quickstep to Stevie Wonder’s song Part Time Lover.
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And with all eyes on the new head judge, she made a comment about Jonnie that was rather inappropriate considering he has a prosthetic leg.
She said: “You bring a whole new meaning to putting a spring in your step.”
As the crowd gave a collective gasp, Shirley put her hand over her mouth and looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her up right there and then.
Luckily, 24-year-old Jonnie saw the funny side, interrupting: “Excuse the pun.”
And Shirley apologised by saying: “OK, I’ve said something wrong again – but you know what I mean.”
But viewers at home were left gobsmacked by Shirley’s blunder, and t0ok to Twitter to have their say.
Read more: Strictly Come Dancing stars reportedly fear Shirley Ballas ‘curse’
One remarked: “Shirley!! #isitok to talk about Jonnie having a spring in his step? Talk about putting your foot in it. Her face after! Lol.”
Another said: “Can’t believe what Shirley just said #tactless.”
And a third chastised: “Shirley, not thinking to the man wearing a blade – you put a new meaning to putting a spring in your step… Jonnie took it well.”
To be fair to Shirley, she did make amends to Jonnie by giving the couple a nine out of ten, meaning they got an impressive 24 points overall (there were only three judges this week, as Bruno Tonioli had other commitments).
But the 57-year-old judge was criticised by fans (again) for OVERMARKING Joe McFadden.
The Holby City star and his professional partner Katya Jones danced the Paso Doble to Rodrigo y Garbriela’s Diablo Rojo.
And Shirley described it as the best male Paso Doble of the series so far, awarding it a perfect ten.
Read more: Strictly fans brand Shirley Ballas “cruel” after Chizzy Akudolu criticism
But some viewers thought she was being overly generous, and were quick to point it out on Twitter.
One wrote: “Scoring is all over the place! Does Shirley watch the same dances as everyone else?!”
And another added: “Shirley’s scores have been all over the place tonight. 10 for Joe?”
Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice topped last night’s leaderboard with a total score of 27.