BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans take issue with judges’ feedback to ‘undermarked’ star

Over the weekend, some Strictly Come Dancing fans expressed disapproval of the judges’ comments to EastEnders cast members Jamie Borthwick.

Jamie, 30, and his dance partner Michelle Tsiakkas, 29, performed a samba to the late George Michael’s Faith on Saturday night as part of the BBC show’s Icons Week. They received a combined score of 31 from the judges, which placed them towards the middle of the leaderboard.

Providing feedback, head judge Shirley Ballas, 64, said: “You hit all the technical elements that one would want to see and your shadow natural roll was really lovely […] Remember that technique is a]guide] to help you with the upper-half of your body. And I believe you are on the right path with everything. […] Moving forward, bring everything you’ve got as a unit”.

Anton Du Beke, 58, told Jamie: “It sort of started, went along and then ended. We’ve been performing really well throughout the competition, which was a good dance. […] You are a great dancer. […] There’s a lot to like but tonight wasn’t your best night”.

Craig Revel Horwood, 59 – who gave them a 7, with him the only judge not to award the performance an 8 – said: “I thought it was a little bit pointed. A little bit spiky. You had more body rhythm in your hands than you could, but your presentation was flawless and you have amazing rhythm there.

Whilst Motsi Mabuse, 43, said: “I feel like you don’t need to be disappointed because for me, I did see all that, but if you imagine a wave, right – a wave is always continuous. So you had all the aspects, it’s just that you move, you stop, you move, you stop. However, you did demonstrate the movement, the fundamental movements, and your performance in accordance with the music’s energy, and I think you did it really well.

Later, it was revealed that Jamie and Michelle managed to avoid the dance-off and made it through the eight weeks of competition. Jamie however later told fans in a post on Instagram that he had been “surprised” that they didn’t end up in the dance-off.

However, some viewers were unimpressed with the judges’ responses. What the heck is that, according to a Reddit user, Jamie was incredibly undermarked? Samba is incredibly difficult, and he was undoubtedly superior to everyone else in this series who has already done it! In my opinion, they completely destroyed his spirit.

Another agreed, responding:” Jamie was SO undermarked!! Although it wasn’t his best dance, the technique was excellent, and I believe they overpowered his confidence. He must be very confused and unsure whether or not he’s any good because the judges constantly say something and do it, and then the fans constantly complain that he’s overmarked and then undermarked the next. “Someone else wrote: “He was only slightly undermarked, but it was more the criticism that was worse.

There were also comments about the reaction to the performance on X, formerly known as Twitter, recently. One person wrote:” Jamie and Michelle have been under-marked. “Others took particular issue with the feedback he received, with one fan writing on the platform:” Baffling comments and scores for Jamie. One of the night’s cleanest dances took place. Was I watching a completely different dance from the judges there, another wrote? I thought Jamie and Michelle were spectacular… “

Whilst someone else said:” Well I thought Jamie’s samba was brilliant. Surprised at marking. “Whilst one fan said:” Jamie was really good and they’re slating him! “Someone said in a post following the performance:” I thought Jamie was much better than they said. “Sharing their thoughts, another said:” Baffled by the judges comments for Jamie and Michelle, like wtf. They did brilliant! “Another wrote: “Is it just me, or are the judges treating Jamie so harshly?” “Someone said:” So confused, I loved Jamie’s dance. “

Some fans, however, complained that he had been “overmarked,” and not everyone else felt the same way. One person tweeted:” Jamie always gets overmarked imo. “Another said:” Jamie should’ve been in the bottom 2. He’s constantly overmarked. “

A third wrote:” Sam]Quek] and Montell]Douglas] in the dance off when people like Wynne]Evans] and Jamie keep getting overmarked every week. “Another said:” Overmarked Jamie again. “Whilst one viewer wrote:” I’m glad Jamie finally got some criticism. He is so overmarked it’s ridiculous. “

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Source: Mirror