The glitz and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing took an unexpected turn this week as fans were left fuming over a baffling decision that threw the judging panel into disarray. The BBC’s flagship dance show welcomed Wicked star Cynthia Erivo as a guest judge, with the acclaimed actress taking center stage on the panel. However, what should have been a dazzling addition to the show quickly turned into a head-scratching spectacle that had viewers up in arms.
Cynthia, celebrated for her role as Elphaba in the 2024 Wizard of Oz prequel Wicked, brought her star power to Strictly. Throughout the week, she worked closely with the celebrities and their professional partners, offering her expertise to elevate their performances. Fans were thrilled at the prospect of her joining the judging lineup, expecting her to bring fresh insights and charisma to the ballroom. But when the live show kicked off, hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman dropped a bombshell: despite the hype, Cynthia was bizarrely barred from scoring the contestants.
As the other judges—Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke—flashed their score paddles, Cynthia sat awkwardly in the middle of the panel, unable to contribute marks or wield the iconic paddle. The decision left her looking like a glamorous bystander, and fans didn’t hold back their frustration, flooding social media with complaints about the “awkward” and “pointless” setup.
On X, viewers vented their disbelief. “Why is Cynthia not scoring? Why’s she just sat there loool stick her in the audience or summat,” one exasperated fan wrote. Another chimed in, “Oh is Cynthia not scoring?? That’s odd.” A third pleaded, “Someone give Cynthia a paddle… it’s all a bit awkward.” The sentiment was echoed across the platform, with one viewer quipping, “Cynthia just sat in the middle whilst they score is sending me, she’s like a competition winner.” Another tried to find humor in the situation, joking, “Obsessed with Cynthia just sat there.”
The decision to sideline Cynthia sparked a wave of criticism, with fans branding the move a “total mess” and demanding the BBC reverse course and give her a scoring paddle. Many questioned why such a high-profile guest, with her wealth of performance experience, was reduced to a silent observer. Cynthia’s previous stint as a stand-in judge in 2021 only fueled the confusion, as viewers wondered why she wasn’t given the same authority this time around.
The controversy comes hot on the heels of another fan uproar, with some accusing the Strictly judges of “favoritism” and “inconsistent” scoring in recent weeks. Complaints of “criminally overmarked” performances have only added fuel to the fire, leaving viewers questioning the show’s judging process as a whole.
Cynthia’s appearance coincides with the buzz surrounding her upcoming film, Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated sequel to Wicked, set to hit theaters on November 21. The first Wicked movie, released last November, smashed box office records, raking in over £565 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film adaptation of a musical ever. Cynthia, who stars alongside Ariana Grande, is no stranger to the spotlight, making her sidelined role on Strictly all the more perplexing.
As fans continue to demand answers and a last-minute U-turn from the BBC, one thing is clear: this judging shake-up has left Strictly Come Dancing waltzing on thin ice. Will the show listen to its viewers and give Cynthia the paddle she deserves? Only time will tell, but for now, the ballroom is buzzing with discontent.