Strictly fans complain the hosts skipped fancy dress for the Halloween special while the judges went all out in costume
Strictly need to be careful pre-recording (some) links because the sudden cut from Johannes to Emma and Josh is enough to give you whiplash, in a picture posted on X by TV Zone Extra.Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke in Halloween costume on the Strictly ballroom floor — Motsi caught Josh Widdicombe off guard with a mid-show scare that sent him to the floor, prompting Emma Willis to declare it "2-0" to the judges.
Josh Widdicombe drew the sharpest criticism, with viewers flooding X within minutes of the show airing to ask 'did Josh not get the Halloween memo?' as he appeared in a plain navy suit. Emma Willis wore a long red gown and Johannes Radebe a black lace two-piece — outfits viewers accepted had a vague Halloween vibe — but Josh's look sparked the loudest complaints. The backlash came amid wider reports that the show's host line-up is reportedly set to change again next series.
Former hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman never dressed up after Claudia's daughter Matilda suffered burns when her witch costume caught fire near a candle in 2014.
The judges went all out: Craig Revel Horwood as the devil, Anton Du Beke as an angel, Motsi Mabuse as a fairy queen and Shirley Ballas as the ice queen.
Fans were further irritated by scripted Halloween sketches between hosts and judges, with one viewer writing: 'Please make it stop!'
