Scriptly come cringing! Judges grumble at ‘overproduced’ and ‘woke’ pre-written traces that rein in even Craig’s acid tongue
The Strictly judges’ honest – often acerbic – verdicts on the contestants’ performances have always been part of the show’s appeal.
But this year, in a drive to attract younger viewers, the BBC is scripting some of judges’ comments for the first time.
And The Mail on Sunday can reveal the move has not gone down well with the judges, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.
Sources say they complain the scripted lines are ‘cringe,’ ‘overproduced’ and at times ‘woke‘.
One line that attracted particular criticism was Mabuse’s verdict on JB Gill and Amy Dowden‘s dance in week three: ‘Both of you are like a box of chocolates getting sweeter every week with every dance.’
The BBC’s move to script some of the judges comments has not gone down well with the panel
The Strictly judges have branded the scripted lines ‘cringe’, ‘overproduced’ and at times ‘woke’
All eyes were on Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola in Saturday’s show as they danced the American Smooth to Proud by Heather Small
An insider said that concerns were being raised that judges’ comments on dances were being ‘over-produced’
Head judge Shirley Ballas commenting on a dance in last week’s show
Another considered overly woke was Ms Mabuse’s line to former athlete Montell Douglas: ‘We’ve been to India, we’ve been to Africa, now we’re in the Caribbean, everyone feels seen.’
Viewers have also noticed that Revel Horwood has been less abrasive this series.
One Strictly insider told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The judges feel that the comments they are being told to make feel over-produced.
‘It has been raised and is beginning to cause a problem.’
All eyes were on Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola in Saturday’s show as they danced an American Smooth to Heather Small’s Proud.
The song holds special meaning for Ms Hadland as her character Stevie often sang it in sitcom Miranda.
Opening the show, Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec impressed both audience and judges with an energetic quickstep to Mariah Carey’s Fantasy.
