The glitz and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing returned to screens on Saturday night (September 27), with 15 celebrities taking to the dance floor for their debut performances. Among them was ITV’s Hollywood correspondent Ross King, who found himself at the center of a heated discussion after a tough critique from the judges. On Monday’s episode of Lorraine, host Lorraine Kelly didn’t hold back, blasting Head Judge Shirley Ballas for her “harsh” scoring of Ross’ performance, sparking a lively conversation that has fans buzzing.
Ross, paired with professional dancer Jowita Przystal, who previously guided Pete Wicks across the Strictly floor, performed a lively cha-cha-cha to Katy Perry’s California Gurls. Despite a dramatic slide entrance that had the audience cheering, the judges were less than impressed, awarding Ross and Jowita a combined score of just 10 points, including a stinging 2/10 from Shirley Ballas. The low score left Ross at the bottom of the leaderboard, but with no eliminations until the following weekend, the pair have a chance to redeem themselves, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
Appearing on Lorraine on Monday morning (September 19), Ross opened up about the whirlwind experience of his Strictly debut. “I got a 10—unfortunately, that was all the scores added together,” he quipped, admitting he was “terrified” during the performance. “I haven’t seen it back yet. Behind the sofa would probably be the best place to watch it from.” Reflecting on the grueling preparation, he added, “Jowita and all the pros make it look so easy, but that routine took 10 days of practice. You’re constantly thinking, ‘Which way is it going?’ It’s overwhelming, and you have no control over anything.”
Lorraine, a longtime friend of Ross, didn’t mince words when discussing the judges’ feedback, particularly targeting Shirley Ballas’ low score. “I thought Shirley was particularly harsh,” she said passionately. “I’m so glad Motsi pointed out that this man has never danced before, for goodness’ sake. Cut him a bit of slack!” Ross, ever the good sport, laughed as he agreed, “I kept saying, ‘I can’t dance,’ and then you get out there and realize, ‘I really can’t dance!’”
The Scottish presenter also poked fun at Ross’ eye-catching outfit, particularly his shiny silver trousers. “I wasn’t keen on those trousers,” Lorraine teased, adding with a chuckle, “I was worried you’d slide right off that ramp and end up in my lap!” Ross admitted the slide was faster than he expected, joking, “I was waiting for Craig to say it was ‘downhill from the beginning and it didn’t get any better.’”
Despite the tough night, Ross was full of praise for his fellow contestants, singling out footballer Karen Carney for her standout performance. “Karen was supreme,” he raved. “We watched her in rehearsal, and I was like, ‘How fast is this?’ She got a standing ovation from all of us. She’s just the loveliest person, and her performance was magnificent.” He also gave a shout-out to the camaraderie among the contestants, noting that Pete Wicks, his dance partner Bridget, and his sister from Glasgow were there to cheer him on. “It was an amazing night,” he said. “We had fun, but again, no control!”
Looking ahead to next week’s performance, Ross hinted at a slower routine and laughed heartily when Lorraine suggested he “burn” those silver trousers before stepping back onto the dance floor. With the support of his fans and a chance to prove himself in the next round, Ross is determined to climb the leaderboard and show the judges what he’s capable of.
As the Strictly competition heats up, Lorraine’s fiery defense of her friend has added an extra spark to the conversation, leaving viewers eager to see how Ross and Jowita will fare in their next performance. Will they dazzle the judges and silence the critics? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—this season of Strictly Come Dancing is already full of drama, heart, and plenty of sequins.