The
Strictly Come Dancing judges’ decision to save Mike Bushell over Catherine Tyldesley in the dance-off this weekend has raised eyebrows, not least over comments they previously made about hoping to keep him in the competition.
In Sunday’s results show, the judges were divided over whether to save Mike or Catherine, with the deciding vote falling to Head Judge Shirley Ballas.However, her choice to send Catherine home has been criticised by some viewers, not least because the judges recently told Jonathan Ross they wanted to keep Mike in the competition until at least Blackpool Week.
Craig Revel Horwood told the presenter in Saturday’s instalment of his ITV talk show: “I’d secretly like him to get to Blackpool, I don’t know why but I would.”The comment has since come back to haunt him, with many viewers claiming this is what motivated the panel – specifically Craig and Shirley – to keep the
BBC Breakfast star in the competition: Can I just make the point again of the fact that last night when the judges were on Jonathan Ross craig and Shirley said they hope mike makes it to Blackpool 😩 THE INJUSTICE #Strictly— Sophie (@opshiedaisyx) October 27, 2019Disappointed that Catherine is going home, think she should’ve got further... but Craig said he wants to see Mike in Blackpool on Jonathon Ross last night🤷🏻♂️ #StrictlyResults#Strictly— Owen (@OwenCChild) October 27, 2019I assume the BBC have already planned Mike’s Blackpool dance and spent lots of money on it because I can’t think of any other reason they would keep him in the competition over better dancers well apart from the fact he’s a BBC boy 😐 #Strictly— ⚫️ Georgina (@imjustabandgeek) October 27, 2019Really sad and disappointed with #strictly again - Dev and now Catherine didn’t deserve to go...it’s really leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. They want Mike to get to Blackpool for the ‘comedy’ #StrictlyComeDancing— Maise33 (@fan33) October 27, 2019Judges need to go to Specsavers. They already said Mike needs to be at Blackpool for entertainment! But they always bang on its about dancing hence strictly come dancing. They had already made up their minds. #sosadthisseason— josiemarie56 🍊 (@josiemarie56) October 27, 2019Funny how craig said on Johnathon Ross that he wanted mike to go to blackpool, #totalfix#Strictly#Strictly2019#Strictlyresults#StrictlyComeDancing— Stig Welder (@stig_welder) October 27, 2019However, during an appearance on Heart Breakfast on Monday morning, Craig stood by his decision to save Mike.
“We have to judge the dance off only, not what happened previously or what is to become, and you can only judge what you see in that one minute thirty and in my opinion Mike had the cleaner dance,” he explained.
“It’s quite simple and you know if it was another day or if Catherine was doing a rumba for instance, against his tango, then she would have won it. But you know it’s what happens on the day.”
He added: “And you have to remember that it’s the audience at home that are putting them in the bottom two as well. It’s not just the judges, we have 50% of the vote so I blame the people that aren’t voting. They’ll all whinge online and be abusive and then you ask them ‘did you vote?’ ‘oh no I didn’t vote’ so if you’re that worried about it, vote.”
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UK has contacted the BBC for comment.
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