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Strictly controversy over Kelvin Fletcher’s Charleston score of 38

Fans felt Dev also deserved 10s

Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse sailed to the top of the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard with an action-packed Charleston.

The former Emmerdale star and his professional dancing partner scored the first 10s of the series with their impressive dance to Mary Poppins Returns in movie’s week.

Kelvin scored a huge 38 points out of 40, securing two 10s from Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli.
Craig Revel Horwood said it was “fab-u-lous”, whilst Shirley added: “You made a difficult routine look easy to the eye. Superb.”

Movie Week produced some high marks (Credit: BBC)

Bruno told the duo: “Everyone’s talking about Kelvin. That was as good as anything I’ve seen on the West End stage or Broadway.”

Read more: Strictly viewers slam show’s singers

Viewers were divided over the score, however.

One posted on Twitter: “I really like Kelvin – the man can dance – but that wasn’t perfect? Not sure about the 10s.”

Another wrote: “I love Kelvin but I’m baffled as to how that deserved 10s.”

A third said: “WOW, two 10s for week three for Kelvin, did not expect that.”

A fourth moaned: “Overmarked!!! Was a good routine but the lifts didn’t flow!!!!!

Another argued: “Kelvin‘s feet didn’t twist as much as they should and it definitely wasn’t a 10!”

It was a good night for Dev Griffin and Dianne Buswell, who came in second place with an amazing 36 points after scoring four nines with the first couple’s choice of the series, a street commercial dance to Friend Like Me from the new Aladdin movie.

Dressed as the genie, Dev impressed all four judges, with Motsi Mabuse telling them: “That was so epic. This is one of those dances we will remember forever.

“I see your hard work. That was out of this world,” whilst Shirley added: “You are amazingly exceptional. You are stunning in every way. We loved it. Congratulations.”

Did Dev and Dianne deserve 10s? (Credit: BBC)

Some viewers were miffed that they didn’t also receive 10s.

“If Kelvin got a 10 then Dev should have as well,” wrote one.

“No offence, Kelvin had two 10s and their lifts weren’t that great, Dev deserved at least a 10 from someone, that dance was incredible,” asserted another.

“Dev and Dianne deserved a 10 at least! Kelvin was overmarked,” a third viewer opined.

Elsewhere, Michelle Visage and Giovanni Pernice opened the show with a quickstep from Cabaret, raking in 35 out of 40.

Shirley told the dancing duo: “I think it was magnifique. I think you smashed it on every level.

“Your character was off the chart. It was absolutely brilliant,” whilst Bruno praised it as “divine decadence”.

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It wasn’t such a good night for Anneka Rice and Kevin Clifton, who ended up bottom of the leaderboard with just 11 points for their Kill Bill themed Charleston.

Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight, with one couple being booted out.

What do you think of the judges’ scores? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know.


Kaggie Hyland
Editor-in-Chief