A STRICTLY ‘fix’ row has raged on after Anton Du Beke made a ‘telling’ comment about Angela Rippon.
This week, Strictly headed to Blackpool for its annual visit to the Northern seaside town.
It was a full circle moment for Angela, 79, as she used to host Come Dancing from the Tower Ballroom, but tonight she was dancing herself with pro partner Kai Widdrington.
The couple performed an American Smooth to Tea for Two by Ella Fitzgerald.
Afterwards, Anton, 57, told them: “That’s right up my street! I loved this, I almost didn’t really care how it went because I loved it so much.
“The frocks, the suits, the extra dancers, the whole ambience, it was just perfect for tonight.
“You looked amazing, you had a moment there where you were dancing around going: ‘This is great!’, you turned around and went: ‘Oh, who are you!’ it was one of the extra dancers.”
He added: “It was so elegant, so sophisticated and gorgeous, I’m delighted you got to do it!”
But his comments were picked up on by some Strictly viewers, who were still smarting over the fact Angela had been saved in the dance off last week over newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
Having branded that result a ‘fix’, they felt their claims were confirmed by Anton’s comment.
One wrote on social media: “@bbcstrictly No way @TheAntonDuBeke
. Angela Rippon did not deserve an 8. She’s made (fix) Blackpool. Now it’s time to go. #StrictlyComeDancing.”
Another added: “”‘I almost didn’t care how it went’ um. Anton. that’s a bit telling #strictly!”
A third agreed, writing: “Anton saying ‘I don’t really care how the dance went’ really says it all regarding Angela #Strictly!”
Meanwhile a fourth tweeted: “Did Anton basically just admit they don’t care what Angela R does, they love it anyway? #Strictly.”
A fellow viewer commented: “The fact the judges are now only scoring Angela R fairly after they got her to Blackpool just screams fix me.”
Strictly airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.
