BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans joke someone 'should face trial' as star returns after backlash

Strictly Come Dancing fans didn't hold back in their thoughts about Lauren Oakley's official return to the ballroom. The professional dancer was part of the 2024 series despite not getting a celebrity dance partner this year.

She was seen being part of the professional dancers' group numbers and the musical performance during the pre-recorded results shows as well as supporting her fellow Strictly stars each week in the 'Claudatorium' with co-host Claudia Winkleman.

However, Lauren has now found herself competing in the BBC One dance contest alongside JB Gill after she initially stepped in for his dance partner and her friend Amy Dowden earlier this month.

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The Welsh professional dancer was paired with the JLS star for the 2024 run of the BBC One dance contest which marked her triumphant return to the ballroom after having to miss competing in the 2023 edition due to undergoing cancer treatment.

But last weekend, Amy was forced to miss the first-ever 'Icons Week' on Strictly after "falling ill" the weekend before and missing a week of rehearsals to rest. It was then confirmed at the start of the week that she was unable to continue in the show due to a foot injury.

It was then confirmed that JB would continue on in the competition with Lauren and the pair performed their first routine as an official new couple on Saturday night (November 9). They finished joint topped the judges’ leaderboard, alongside Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec, with a samba that "stunned" the judges.

Commenting on their dance to Mas Que Nada by Sergio Mendes, judge Anton Du Beke said: "I am stunned, stunned. Last week. You did your couple’s choice and I said: ‘Please can you bring this moving forward? Just bring it and stick it on another dance.’ Man alive, did you bring it!"

And the performance left Strictly fans sending a clear message to show bosses about Lauren's place in the competition. @Ariadne_Reviews said: "Whoever made the call to bench Lauren at the beginning of the series needs to face trial. She goes absolutely nuclear on that dancefloor and it's a joy to watch every time. #scd #strictly."

@HertsSid commented: "I swear Lauren could bring a corpse to life with her verve and energy she's sublime #Strictly." @TraylorHolmes wrote: "Can we acknowledge Lauren please for stepping in at the last minute and absolutely smashing it? #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly."

@Mattsybaker posted: "Give Lauren a partner every year, she is brilliant, that Samba with JB was fantastic and fabulous, should've been a 40 #strictly." @karenmediawales echoed: "Lauren Oakley has surely won the right for a partner next year. That samba with JB was insane @bbcstrictly #strictly." @_AaronL__ added: "Lauren came to show them producers they made a big mistake benching her this year #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing."