Sarah Hadland and her Strictly Come Dancing partner Vito Coppola have found themselves at the centre of a favouritism row among BBC viewers following Halloween Week.
On Saturday evening, the pair ended up joint-top of the leaderboard after taking on the first Argentine Tango of the series in a Dracula-themed performance.
The pair scored a near-perfect 38 from the four judges, including two 10s from Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse.
The pair even branded Hadland and Coppola’s performance as “the dance of the night” while the former also said: “I did that thing where I start to write things and then I don’t write anything.
“You have the best legs of the competition they are fan – I agree with Motsi. Dance of the night.”
Head judge Shirley Ballas – who was in character as Winifred from Hocus Pocus – echoed: “It’s really quite spectacular.
BBC Strictly: Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola’s Argentine Tango was deemed ‘overmarked’ by fans
BBC
“I thought the lifts were fantastic and done with ease. you worked as a team, you had it all going on. Your magic really sprinkled on you tonight.”
Craig Revel Horwood was also complimentary but did take the opportunity to point out some flaws with the routine.
“You had a little problem getting into the first lift but I think that was to do with a heel and a dress and all of that stuff. You’re missing your passes through your feet,” he critiqued.
Revel Horwood added: “But apart from that, I’ve got to say, that was the most wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Argentine Tango I think we’ve seen on the show.”
He and Ballas opted to lift their nine paddles while Du Beke and Mabuse deemed the performance as 10-worthy, but the fact there was a slip-up in the performance meant fans weren’t best pleased with the verdicts.
Soon after the performance, the Strictly Instagram account shared a clip of the dance on its page, prompting floods of fans to share their anger at the subsequent scores.
“The opening was clumsy, and the dance didn’t look like an Argentine tango,” one fan hit out in response to the clip.
A second agreed: “Totally over marked!!! Sorry guys, lots of mistakes and awkward leg action. Not classy. Not your best dance.”
And a third blasted: “How can it be a 10, when first lift a complete mess, didn’t enjoy the dance, no connection, looked very messy.”
Elsewhere, a fourth echoed: “Loved this dance, however you cannot award 10’s when there are more than one obvious errors.”
BBC Strictly: Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola have divided fans with their scores
BBC
Meanwhile, another concurred: “First lift messed up, unprecise footwork throughout (as explained by Craig), the rest of the time she was flung around by Vito as always.
“No connection between them whatsoever either. The overmarking for favourite pros is very real!”
And a sixth echoed the favouritism claims: “Way overmarked!!! Heavy lifts, first one messed up, messy footwork as always. Crazy over marking this year!”
However, amidst the anger were some viewers who threw their support behind the Miranda star and her Italian pro partner: “Wow wow wow WOW!! Motsi was right, dance of the night! Well done Sarah & Vito, you deserve those 10s!” (sic)
