Yahoo News 'What more does she have to do?': 'Strictly' viewers can't believe Maisie Smith didn't get a perfect score
Maisie Smith has put in another amazing performance on Strictly Come Dancing - but viewers can’t believe that yet again, she missed out on full marks.
The EastEnders actor performed a fast-paced, perfectly-timed Jive based on Little Shop of Horrors for musicals week, but somehow she still didn’t make a full house of 10s from the judges.
Read more: Shirley Ballas struggles with compliments from Strictly colleagues
She and dance partner Gorka Marquez looked delighted as the judges offered glowing comments with no negative criticism at all.
A smash hit from start to finish. Maisie and Gorka's Little Shop of kicks and flicks is open for business! #Strictly @maisie_smith_ @gorkamarquez1 pic.twitter.com/ct0gO3pa4a
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) December 5, 2020
maisie deserves 3 10s for that jive, that was insane!!! #Strictly
— emilee ✧ (@emileehopex) December 5, 2020
Craig Revel Horwood said: “Your energy is absolutely insane, fantastic musicality, really complex changes of rhythm that you absolutely nailed...absolutely smashed it.”
Head judge Shirley Ballas added: “I think you did exactly what you wanted to do, and that was smashed it for sure.”
And Motsi Mabuse agreed: “The rhythmical changes in that were so difficult, and on top of it you have time to play and to act. The life of the music is in your body, I adore that.
“You are music.”
I'm sorry but what on earth does Maisie have to do to get a 30? #Strictly
— Natalie Guest (@natalieguest12) December 5, 2020
fed up of maisie getting outstanding comments but not 30 ??? what more do you want #Strictly
— angel (@eastwhit) December 5, 2020
no I’m sorry maisie, that was a 10,10,10 performance! couldn’t tell who the pro was #Strictly
— miss k🦋✨ (@PrincessMarsxx) December 5, 2020
Justice for Maisie 🙌 should have been a clear 30/30 #Strictly
— Mollie Leigh (@MollieLeigh7) December 5, 2020
The show’s other pro dancers and contestants gave the couple a standing ovation for one of the strongest Jives the show has seen, but things fell a little flat when it came to the scoring.
Going by the judges’ comments, many expected to see Smith score 30 points - but she ended up with 28 after scoring nines from Revel Horwood and Mabuse, and one 10 from Ballas.
However, Smith and Marquez seemed happy with their score, which placed them second on the leaderboard behind HRVY and Janette Manrara.
don’t understand how Maisie got NO criticism and 28, whereas HRVY had one or two timing issues and got 29?! #Strictly
— Natasha Blazey (@natasha_blazey) December 5, 2020
Saying she had been aiming to impress Ballas, Smith said: “The fact that it went to plan makes me so happy.”
Previously, Smith has found herself in the bottom two despite sitting at the top end of the leaderboard twice, but has never got a perfect score from the judges and Ballas even chose to send her home one week - although she was outvoted by her colleagues.
Imma need to need Craig and Motsi to show their working to explain those nines....Maisie smashed that! #strictly
— alexjamessays (@abigailcoughlan) December 5, 2020
Musicals week was a hit with viewers in its opening number from the pro dancers, a Priscilla Queen of the Desert routine that starred Johannes Radebe, Gorka Marquez and Giovanni Pernice in sequinned gowns and high heels.
There was also an emotional speech about the effect of COVID on theatres from Andrew Lloyd Webber at the beginning of the episode.
Watch: Craig Revel Horwood talks COVID and Strictly
