Yahoo News Strictly Come Dancing fans unhappy as Shirley Ballas tells Seann Walsh to 'tidy himself up' after Bodyguard-themed Tango
Strictly Come Dancing’s Seann Walsh and Katya Jones paid homage to the BBC’s most successful drama in a decade, Bodyguard, during their opening routine.
The comedian and partner Jones, who won last year, danced the Tango to SexyBack, channelling Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes’ characters from the hit Sunday night thriller.
Jones held a red box in homage to Julia Montague while Walsh pretended to be standing guard just as Protection Officer David Budd in the drama.
But it was his comments from judge Shirley Ballas that left some fans unhappy, branding the head judge "rude".
Step aside David Budd. 🤚 👀@SeannWalsh has secured the Ballroom and he's bringing sexy back! @Mrs_katjones (THAT MOVE 😱) 🔥 #Strictly pic.twitter.com/HZaSLkxF2C
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) 22 September 2018
Ballas criticised the use of a lift in the routine, prompting Jones to tell her it was "more of a chuck".
She also urged Walsh to tie his hair back for the ballroom dances, saying: "Tidy yourself up a little bit, it was flying all over the place."
Shirley trying to penalise Seann for his hair is ridiculously unfair and definitely against the rules. He better not actually lose points for that. Totally irrelevant comment. #Strictly
— madeleine ♎️ (@madeleineruth18) 22 September 2018
Judge the dancing @ShirleyBallas not the dress sense! Great effort @seannwalsh! Sexy Back yayyyy!🕺💃#Strictly So rude Shirley! @Mrs_katjones
— Dave (@DavidWa50046817) 22 September 2018
Shirley was a bit harsh with Seann...don't criticise someone's hair or appearance! #Strictly pic.twitter.com/RlRnhauk05
— Matti Colley #FBPE (@matti_colley) 22 September 2018
That was a bit rude coming from Shirley saying Seann needs to tidy himself up, it shouldn't matter how his hair is, it makes no difference to how he dances, he took it well but if it was a male judge saying that to a female contestant, everyone would hate it 😒 #Strictly
— Hannah (@hannahfun1) 22 September 2018
Omg Sean Walsh dancing to Sexyback with a Bodyguard theme to it, just utter genius! #Strictly #seanandkatya
— Chantal (@ChantiLiz) 22 September 2018
a #bodyguard themed dance 2018 has PEAKED #strictly
— Naomi (@justnaomiyeh) 22 September 2018
How come Shirley hasn’t told Graziano to tie his hair back #Strictly 🤣
— Gazeroo (@gazeroo74) 22 September 2018
One wrote: “Shirley trying to penalise Seann for his hair is ridiculously unfair and definitely against the rules. He better not actually lose points for that. Totally irrelevant comment.”
While another said: “Shirley was a bit harsh with Seann...don't criticise someone's hair or appearance! #Strictly.”
“That was a bit rude Shirley you're judging his dancing not his hair style! #Strictly,” added another.
The pair were awarded 18 for their efforts, with Revel Horwood scoring a three.
Bodyguard, penned by Jed Mercurio, is set to conclude on Sunday evening with a 75 minute episode with the drama tipped to have an incredibly high viewership .
Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One.
Additional reporting by the Press Association.
