Strictly Come Dancing ‘fix’ row continued on Saturday night after judge Anton Du Beke made a ‘telling’ comment about Angela Rippon.
During the Blackpool special, the presenter, 79, returned to the seaside resort after hosting the original version of the show, Come Dancing, in the Eighties and Nineties.
She performed the American Smooth to Tea For Two by Ella Fitzgerald alongside professional partner Kai Widdrington.
Afterwards Anton said: ‘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.
Wow! Strictly Come Dancing ‘fix’ row continued on Saturday night after judge Anton Du Beke made a ‘telling’ comment about Angela Rippon
All smiles: During the Blackpool special, the presenter, 79, returned to the seaside resort after hosting the original version of the show, Come Dancing, in the Eighties and Nineties
‘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!’
Following his comments, fans took to X to say the BBC show had ‘fixed’ Angela getting to Blackpool after she was saved in the dance off last week over newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
Fans believed that Anton’s comments confirmed that the result last week were planned.
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.’
A second added: ‘”I almost didn’t care how it went” um. Anton. that’s a bit telling #strictly!’
A third agreed: ‘Anton saying “I don’t really care how the dance went” really says it all regarding Angela #Strictly!’
‘Did Anton basically just admit they don’t care what Angela R does, they love it anyway? #Strictly’, added a fifth.
Showtime: She performed the American Smooth to Tea For Two by Ella Fitzgerald alongside professional partner Kai Widdrington
Afterwards Anton said: ‘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’
Shock: Following his comments, fans took to X to say Anton ‘confirmed’ the BBC show had ‘fixed’ Angela getting to Blackpool
Angela Rippon is back in Blackpool! The Strictly star presented Come Dancing in the Eighties and Nineties at the Tower Ballroom (pictured in 1998)
Another viewer wrote: ‘The fact the judges are now only scoring Angela R fairly after they got her to Blackpool just screams fix me.’
Despite the ‘fix’ claims Angela scored 28 leaving her bottom of the leaderboard while Layton Williams and Ellie Leach finished in joint top with 39.
The first Come Dancing programme was aired in 1950 and presented by Peter Dimmock, with Leslie Mitchell as the master of ceremonies.
Angela joined as a presenter a few years later alongside the likes of Terry Wogan, Judith Chalmers, David Jacobs, and Rosemarie Ford.
Come Dancing ended in 1998. However the success of the film Strictly Ballroom rekindled interest in dance and so, in 2004, Strictly Come Dancing aired on BBC.
