There was friction between Shirley Ballas and Anton du Beke as the head judge delivered her verdict on his performance with Emma Barton tonight.
EastEnders star Emma and pro Anton performed the Rhumba, and it failed to impress Shirley.
She began her critique by saying: “First of all I want to say that you’re tall and elegant and you have everything it takes to do a Rhumba before I say what I’m about to say-”
Anton interrupted, sniping: “There’s no need to say anymore.”
Shirley continued: “The only timing that I could read was the basic – the alemana and the sliding doors… the rest of it I have absolutely no idea on what count you were dancing for this dance.
“There are four beats and three steps – you have to understand that.”
Anton cut in again, arguing: “Sometimes there are four steps and three beats.
“Sometimes there are five steps and seven beats. Sometimes there are no steps!”
Emma put on her best showbiz grin, as Shirley and Anton’s volley continued, but viewers weren’t happy.
It’s a disgrace to hold them to a different level to everyone else on the show.
One tweeted: “Am I missing something here? Emma and Anton danced brilliantly yet the judges have barely given her one compliment.
“It’s a disgrace to hold them to a different level to everyone else on the show.”
Another posted: “Trying to figure out how Shirley can give Emma and Anton a 5 and Mike an 8, she’s so biased!”
A third wrote: “For a show that’s supposed to be lighthearted entertainment it’s not okay for Shirley Ballas to get away with speaking to Emma that way.
“She was nasty and it’s not constructive or funny. I’m all for Anton‘s sass.”
Was Shirley too hard on Emma and Anton? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!