Strictly Come Dancing fans outraged as Nick Knowles faces 'stitch up' upon show return

Strictly Come Dancing fans were left baffled by the dance that Nick Knowles was given after he returned to the BBC show following an injury

Strictly Come Dancing fans have voiced their confusion over the decision to assign Nick Knowles the Charleston for his return performance, with some calling the move a "stitch up".

The hit dance show returned on Saturday evening with presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman steering the ship. DIY SOS's own Nick Knowles and his dance partner Luba Mushtuk were back on the stage after skipping a week because of Nick's knee injury.

Though sidelined last week, Knowles had assured fans he'd be ready to hit the dance floor once again. However, his comeback has left many bewildered given that he was tasked with the Charleston, known for its demanding high energy and intricate footwork.

Fans worried that the dance chosen for Nick could be more challenging than what he was capable of handling post-injury, and they didn't hold back in expressing their concerns online. One commented: "Only #Strictly can give out a #Charleston to Nick with a bad knee. Ridiculous."

Another shared doubts about the adapted routine saying: "Glad to see Nick made it back but because of the injury the reworked choreography made for a lacklustre Charleston. What he could dance he did well.", reports the Mirror.

A third pointed out: "Of all the dances to give Nick Knowles after coming back from a knee injury...a Charleston."

Another chimed in with empathy, adding: "You can really tell Nick is still on the painkillers, he's still injured clearly and not wanting to really go for it. Good effort, just needed him to totally go for it which I'm not sure he was able to."

Before the judges revealed their scores, Nick candidly shared his feelings about being back on the show, admitting: "To be honest this time last week, I thought I was out. So I'm just over the moon."

Nick then went on to score 21 points from the panel, with Craig Revel-Horwood giving him a four. Despite the score, some fans felt that Nick's performance was overrated.

An irritated fan weighed in on Nick's score compared to another contestant, commenting: "Pity points for Nick and Luba? No way was that Charleston only one point away from Sarah and Vito."

Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One

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