“A FIVE?! SHIRLEY, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?” Strictly Come Dancing Viewers Turn On Shirley Ballas After ‘Ridiculous’ Scoring Sparks Furious Debate

Shirley Ballas has found herself at the centre of a Strictly Come Dancing backlash after awarding Tabby Stoecker a score of just five — with furious viewers insisting the Quickstep deserved far more.

The BBC judge faced a wave of criticism during Saturday night’s Halloween Week special, as fans questioned her harsh comments towards several celebrities and accused her of being overly critical of some performances.

But while some viewers were ready to challenge Shirley’s verdicts, others rushed to her defence, arguing that her feedback was neither rude nor unfair.

‘A FIVE?!’ Shirley’s Score Leaves Viewers Fuming

Strictly Come Dancing returned to BBC screens on Saturday, October 31, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe introducing the Halloween-themed show.

The remaining couples took to the ballroom with one goal: impress the judges and avoid becoming the next pair eliminated from the competition.

Last week, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr became the fourth couple to leave the show after losing their dance-off against Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu.

With the competition intensifying, Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke were back to scrutinise every step.

However, Shirley’s assessment of Tabby Stoecker and professional partner Mark Karmalita quickly became one of the night’s biggest talking points.

The head judge awarded their Quickstep just five points, prompting an immediate backlash from viewers who believed the score was far too low.

One frustrated fan took to X to question Shirley’s mood, writing: “Is Shirley ok tonight? Giving Tabby a 5 for that dance. It was clearly way better than a 5. She needs to get out of her mood, ruining the vibe of the show.”

Another viewer accused the judge of being inconsistent in her assessments of the contestants, posting: “Shirley being harsh on Delta and Tabby but giving John stupid amounts of praise?”

A third was so unimpressed with the score that they threatened to take matters into their own hands: “A FIVE?! Shirley, I am stealing that five panel from you. IT’S BEEN OUT TOO MUCH, AND IT’S UNFAIR EVERY TIME.”

The complaints continued, with one fan insisting there was “no way Tabby’s Quickstep was a 5.”

Others branded the scoring “truly ridiculous”, while another viewer bluntly asked: “FIVE??? IS SHIRELY ALRIGHT?”

The reaction made it clear that Shirley’s five had struck a nerve with a section of the Strictly audience.

Shirley Stands Her Ground As The Crowd Boos

The controversy was not limited to the score itself. Shirley’s comments to Tabby and Mark also drew a reaction from the studio audience.

After watching their Quickstep, the judge offered an honest assessment of the performance while acknowledging the couple’s potential.

“It wasn’t your best for me, but I can see potential in this team,” Shirley told them.

The audience promptly began booing.

Rather than backtracking, Shirley doubled down on her advice, urging Tabby to listen carefully if she wanted to progress further in the competition.

“Listen to your auntie Shirley, because you’ve got a chance to go far,” she said.

She then explained what needed to improve, particularly if Tabby and Mark were to perform more ballroom routines.

“So, if you’ve got more ballroom dances, you’re gonna have to correct the postural element and some of the footwork. But, good job.”

Her comments combined criticism with encouragement, but the crowd’s response showed that not everyone agreed with her assessment.

Not Everyone Is Against Shirley Ballas

Despite the wave of complaints, Shirley did have viewers willing to defend her.

One fan expressed surprise at the audience’s reaction, writing: “BAFFLED by the booing of Shirley at her comments for Tabby. I didn’t think there was anything rude or mean.”

The disagreement highlighted the divide among Strictly fans. While some believed Tabby’s performance warranted a higher score, others felt Shirley was simply doing her job by pointing out areas that needed improvement.

The debate also followed her criticism of Delta Goodrem’s Viennese Waltz, adding to the scrutiny surrounding her feedback throughout the show.

With the competition moving forward, Shirley’s judging is once again proving capable of generating as much discussion as the performances themselves.

Strictly’s Halloween Results Show Set For A Major Twist

Away from the judging controversy, the Halloween Week results show promises an unusual development in Strictly Come Dancing history.

For the first time in the show’s history, three couples will face a triple dance-off, creating an especially tense showdown before the judges deliver their verdict.

But there is a significant twist: instead of voting for the couple they want to save, each judge will reveal which pairing they would like to see eliminated.

The results show will also feature a Halloween group performance from the professional dancers, set to Dracula by Tame Impala.

The routine begins at a drive-in movie theatre, where Alexis Warr and Nikita Kuzmin are enjoying a first date. The atmosphere soon takes a sinister turn when Nikita is revealed to be a vampire.

Adding another theatrical touch, Sir Ian McKellen will make a vocal appearance through a specially recorded extract from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, which will be played at the end of the performance.

With three couples facing the possibility of elimination, the Halloween results show could deliver a particularly dramatic night in the ballroom.

Which pairing will become the next to leave Strictly Come Dancing? Viewers will have to wait for the results to find out.

Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.