Claudia Winkleman distracted Strictly Come Dancing viewers within moments of kicking off Saturday’s Blackpool special.
At the start of the instalment and to mark the spectacular milestone week, BBC viewers were first treated to a performance of a Pet Shop Boys medley from the legendary band themselves.
The Strictly pros performed a dance number as the medley ensued while the Blackpool crowd roared from the sidelines.
The remaining contestants took to the floor ahead of their routines and soon after, Winkleman and Tess Daly entered proceedings.
“Hello, Blackpool!” Daly yelled as the crowd cheered. “It is such an honour to be back in the Tower ballroom.”
Winkleman then weighed in to thank the Pet Shop Boys, the dancers and the show’s choreographers – but it’s safe to say her words fell on deaf ears for some fans who were more concerned with her eye-catching outfit.
BBC Strictly: Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly kicked off Blackpool Week
BBC
For Blackpool Week, Winkleman opted to wear a full-length sequined rose gold poncho complete with fringe on the sleeves.
The bizarre wardrobe choice was a stark contrast to Daly who’d gone for a more classic ensemble.
To mark the occasion, Daly wore a figure-hugging red dress and while several viewers flocked to praise her choice, not everyone was unanimously on side with Winkleman’s.
“After that amazing opener, Claudia walks on in that outfit and upstages that entire routine. #strictly,” one fan hit out on X, formerly Twitter.
“So it appears Claudia is wearing a gold version of her fringe #Strictly,” a second sarcastically slammed.
Meanhile, a third pre-empted the uproar: “Twitter going crazy over Claudia’s gold poncho/kaftan in 3-2-1……#Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.”
“Claudia wtf are you wearing girl #strictly,” a fourth weighed in with a crying emoji before a fifth joked: “#Strictly Claudia’s wearing the Ballroom curtains. Still looks fab though.”
Elsewhere, a sixth harshly critiqued: “Oh dear what is Claudia wearing… looks awful why does she get it so wrong so often #Strictly.”
