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Strictly star Craig Revel Horwood slams claims judges ‘fix’ scores

Scores at the ready: Craig Revel Horwood, Dame Darcey Bussell, Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli: BBC/Guy Levy
Scores at the ready: Craig Revel Horwood, Dame Darcey Bussell, Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli: BBC/Guy Levy

Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has slammed claims the judges “fix” scores on the BBC ballroom show.

The show has come under fire from fans and professional dancers who have accused the judges of influencing viewer votes.

Former Strictly pro Ola Jordan suggested back in 2015 that the panel deliberately gave higher scores to certain contestants, something show bosses have denied.

Revel Horwood has now hit back, telling the Daily Mail: “Professional dancer Ola Jordan threw in the towel during the 2015 season, after she and sprinter Iwan Thomas were voted out. She had stuck it out for two years after her husband James left the show but quit after giving an interview accusing the judges of fixing the score. Per-lease!

Famous four: Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli, Dame Darcey Bussell (BBC/Guy Levy)
Famous four: Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli, Dame Darcey Bussell (BBC/Guy Levy)

“I can assure everyone we have never fixed anything in our lives. Our scores are honest reflections of what we see in front of us.”

Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Shirley Ballas faced fixing accusations after scoring Seann Walsh and Katya Jones 28 points for their Charleston on Saturday night.

The couple, who were pictured kissing on a night out behind their partners’ backs, were praised by the judges.

Ballas said: “That choreography, that routine was outstanding. High energy. I thought you did extremely well.”

Tonioli added: “You threw everything at it but the kitchen sink. You even got the fire oven. It was so manic, but manic in a good way.”

Viewers disagreed with one tweeting: “Has someone put something in the judges’ water? Why the hell would you give Seann such high scores?! #strictly.”

Making it through: Seann Walsh and Katya Jones (BBC/Guy Levy)
Making it through: Seann Walsh and Katya Jones (BBC/Guy Levy)

A second posted: “Sorry @ShirleyBallas I love you, but Seann's dance was NOT an 8! #strictly.”

A third wrote: “Seann's score did not reflect what I saw #strictly #scd.”

Walsh and Jones were the favourites to be given the boot on Sunday night following the fallout from their illicit liaison, but they escaped the dance-off.

Katie Piper was sent packing with Gorka Marquez after failing to impress over Charles Venn and Karen Clifton.

Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One, Saturday at 6:45pm