Strictly week three: viewers react to Couple's Choice, presenting line-up and Motsi Mabuse

Right · 1The third live Strictly Come Dancing show of the series aired on BBC One on Saturday 10 October, with 14 celebrity pairings remaining, according to the Daily Express. 1 Right · 1Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are on the panel, while Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe present in place of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. 1 Right · 1Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola opened with a Samba. Horwood and Mabuse gave it a six each and Ballas and Du Beke a seven each, putting Turner's week-three total at 26, down two from Movie Week. 2

Right · 1Love Island's Cach Mercer and new pro Maddie Ingoldsby performed the Couple's Choice, a street dance and hip-hop routine. They scored 31 out of 40 (Horwood seven, the other three judges eight each). 3 Right · 1The Express reported that many viewers on X complained that Couple's Choice should be a themed week, arguing that it gives the one couple performing it an advantage and is hard to judge against dances with set rules. 3 Right · 1Viewer reaction to the presenting trio was mixed. The Express said viewers found an exchange after Turner's Samba awkward, when Widdicombe told the couple to go upstairs before Willis had finished speaking, and some called for the hosts to swap roles. 2

Right · 1The Daily Mail said producers had not changed the presenting format after week-two criticism, so Widdicombe and Willis again presented on the floor while Radebe stayed in the upstairs "Clauditorium". Some viewers said they felt ignored. Others said Radebe and Willis were settling in, and the Mail said fans were beginning to warm to the trio. 4 Right · 1The Mail also reported that after rumours of tension between Mabuse and Widdicombe, Mabuse replied "Yes Josh, my FRIEND!" to a joke from him. It said Widdicombe laughed, while one viewer remained unconvinced the two were friends. 4 Right · 1Another Express piece said fans praised Mabuse's sparkling strapless gown as she was introduced, citing posts on X. 1

Right · 1The Express also covered the exit of Amy Dowden and Chris Appleton, the first pair eliminated, after Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu were saved by the judges in the dance-off. Ex-pro Brendan Cole told Sky Vegas he did not think Dowden had done a good job in recent years. The Express reported that Dowden posted an Instagram clip captioned "If you know, you know" an hour before the show, which it described as a coded reply. 5 Right · 1Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington led the leaderboard after two weeks with 59 points. The results show airs Sunday at 7:10pm on BBC One and iPlayer, with a Ballroom versus Latin group dance. 4