BBC Strictly Come Dancing judge slammed for 'ridiculous' comment as couple 'robbed'

Strictly Come Dancing viewers have slammed judge Craig Revel Horwood for 'robbing' Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola of a perfect score after calling their routine 'too perfect'.

During Saturday night's live Blackpool special, the 53-year-old Miranda actress took to the dancefloor with her professional partner Vito to perform a couple's choice routine to Padam by Kylie Minogue.

On stage, they were joined by a chorus of dancers as they performed a dance in the 'Frug' style - a dance craze featuring upbeat pop music that became popular during the 1960s.

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The pair received rapturous applause from the audience, but judge Craig couldn't help but point out a flaw with the dance - and it didn't go down well with viewers.

Craig explained that the dance was influenced by a Bob Fosse number from the musical Sweet Charity, and the choreography was therefore "very minimalistic and economical". But, he told the couple: "With that economy one still has to live and stand out through it so you don't look and blend in with the chorus. That's my only gripe - that it was a little too perfect."

Craig's comment seemed to upset the studio audience who immediately started to boo the judge. Attempting to explain his criticism, Craig said: "I know that sounds weird, but it just lacked an attitude in those still moments that brought you out of the crowd."

However, Craig still appeared to enjoy the routine and made it known by concluding his comments with: "Spectacular, darling!" Meanwhile, the other judges had only praise for the couple, with Anton Du Beke calling the performance "the best thing you've done by miles" and Shirley Ballas agreeing that it was their "best dance so far".

But when it came to the scoring, Craig's criticism led to the couple missing out on a perfect score of 40 - and it left fans at home fuming. Motsi Mabuse, Anton and Shirley all gave the couple a 10, while Craig decided to knock a point off for the 'too perfect' dance giving it a 9.

"Sarah and Vito Coppola robbed of a 40 for being TOO PERFECT, Make it make sense!," one viewer fumed. "Did Sarah and Vito really just get marked down for being 'too perfect'…… you have GOT to be kidding," another commented.

Another added: "What will it take for Craig to give a 10? now people have to worry about being 'too perfect'."

A fifth person commented: "Too perfect, Craig?? Ridiculous", while a sixth said: "TOO PERFECT?? Literally just give it a 10 it was so good … that’s what couples choice should be!!"

Ahead of the show, Sarah revealed that Blackpool brought back bad memories for her because of an incident from her childhood that felt like "something in a horror film".

She explained: "My mum took me to Blackpool when I was little. We got there and we did the rollercoaster, when our photograph came through everyone had their arms in the air but I’m nowhere to be seen. I’m in the brace position, probably screaming, brace, brace.

"After that, my mum took us to go on a little donkey ride on the beach. I got on a donkey but it got spooked. I swung under the donkey and was dragged with my face in the sand.

"This donkey was called something like Brenda. It’s like something in a horror film. After that, I think I was a bit traumatised and just came home."