TV

Debbie McGee’s Salsa error you probably didn’t notice

Strictly favourite committed the blunder on Saturday

Strictly Come Dancing’s Debbie McGee sailed through to Blackpool week after delivering a fabulous Salsa performance last weekend.

The 59-year-old and pro partner Giovanni Pernice nabbed an impressive 35 out of 40 for an optician-themed (yes, really) dance, booking their place at this weekend’s Blackpool spectacular.

But apparently there was a mistake in Debbie’s routine that we all totally missed.

What, you ask?

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Well, according to Strictly Come Dancing pro Erin Boag, at one point in the routine, Debbie missed a movement and accidentally smacked poor Giovanni in the face!

Ouch.

But it all happened so fast the viewer wouldn’t have seen.

Erin appeared on Strictly spinoff It Takes Two on Tuesday night, where she gave an analysis of each couple’s latest choreography.

Discussing Debbie, Erin, 42, said: “She has got so much energy even for a woman half her age and she’s always sublime.

“Debbie doesn’t often make any mistakes so this isn’t a negative, it’s a positive about how quickly she picks up the routine.”

Erin went on to play back Debbie and Giovanni’s routine in slow motion to show how Debbie missed a step in the performance but was able to seamlessly slip into another position and continue on.

“She did spin, missed the hand but knows she has a lift coming up and has to get her hands between her thighs,” explained Erin, talking as Debbie’s actions played out on screen.

Unfortunately for Giovanni, 27, he found himself with a thump on the face while Debbie was getting back into position.

Erin said: “Giovanni then picks her up, throws her around and here – whack! – did anyone see that? Probably not because it’s played in slow here.”

She added: “At this stage in the competition you have one chance. Everybody is good. You have got to go out there and if you make a mistake, like Debbie did, then just have to carry on like nothing happened.”

To be honest, we’ve replayed it in slow motion quite a few times and it’s still difficult to see!

Either way, it doesn’t look like Giovanni was hurt.

Strictly’s head judge Shirley Ballas had pointed out the missed hand movement in her judging on Saturday night, but told Debbie she was amazing regardless.

Bruno Tonioli agreed it had been an error, but said: “That was the essence of Salsa and infused with the spirit of youth!”

The pair will perform the samba to a Spice Girls medley on Saturday night – but poor Debbie has been suffering with a painful back injury.

Her Donna told The Mirror that her 59-year-old sibling’s been battling painful twisted muscles in her back for the last couple of weeks, but the injury is particularly “playing up” right now.

“She’s twisted a muscle so she’s struggling,” said Donna.

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“It’s a real shame. She has been suffering – she had a hot water bottle on her back all week.

“It’s really been playing up.”

Get better soon, Debbie!


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor