Strictly's Shirley Ballas is accused of 'undermarking' and even Craig Revel-Horwood calls head judge a 'fun sponge' for her harsh critique

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Strictly's judges clashed during Saturday night's show as Craig Revel Horwood labelled head judge Shirley Ballas 'a fun sponge' for her 'harsh' critique.

Whilst Craig is notoriously the toughest judge on the BBC show, viewers pointed out that Shirley was dishing out more low scores and getting more boos from the live studio audience as the celebs took to the floor for a third time.

Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb and his partner Jowita Przystał's Rumba was singled out by Shirley, who is known as the 'queen of Rumba'.

The head judge moaned it was 'not my cup of tea, flat-footed, and too much standing around', explaining she had awarded an extra point for 'hitting one nice line'.

Anton Du Beke disagreed with Shirley's criticisms and confirmed he 'liked that style of Rumba', before Craig branded her a 'fun sponge' as he praised 'talented' Lawrence's 'great storytelling'.

Motsi Mabuse then joked of the tension between Craig and Shirley: 'I feel like a child having to help my parents through a divorce.'

Strictly's judges clashed during Saturday night's week three show as Craig Revel Horwood labelled head judge Shirley Ballas 'a fun sponge' for her 'harsh' critique

Whilst Craig is notoriously the toughest judge on the long-running BBC show, viewers pointed out that Shirley was dishing out low scores

Craig and Motsi both scored Lawrence five points, while Anton dished out six points and Shirley just four, giving Lawrence and Jowita a total of 20 points.

Strictly viewers accused Shirley of being too 'harsh' on Lawrence, with one fan writing on X: 'Lawrence is getting my vote tonight because you cannot blame bad choreography on the celebrity #Strictly.'

'Shirley could have been a bit gentler with Lawrence then, he's just danced a rumba for the first time in front of millions of people,' agreed another viewer posting on X.

'What is up with Shirley tonight?! She has turned into Craig!' said another.

Shirley was also accused of being harsh with her scoring when it came to the final dance of the night.

Olympian Tabby Stoecker and her partner Mark Karmalita danced the Argentine Tango to Hate That I Made You Love Me by Ariana Grande.

The pair certainly finished on a high as they commanded the dancefloor, with their performance leaving the audience on their feet.

The dance gave Mosti 'goosebumps' as she hailed them a 'dark horse'. Anton meanwhile borrowed Craig's words as he commented: 'Love, love, love!'

Strictly Week 3 leaderboard

Celebrity and dance partner

Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington

Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby

Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita

Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu

Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin

Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu

Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola

Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley

Will Best and Dianne Buswell

Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon

John Nellis and Katya Jones

Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał

Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec

Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr

Score

Motsi Mabuse joked of the tension between Craig and Shirley: 'I feel like a child having to help my parents through a divorce'

Whilst Shirley noted that she 'really enjoyed the 'unbelievable' dance, she decided to award the pair a seven, with viewers insisting the dance deserved more, especially after all of her fellow judges, including Craig, got out their eight paddles.

'Shirley only giving Tabby a 7?????? WHATTTTTT?!' asked one shocked viewer.

'Tabby and Mark were incredible Imagine doing that in week 3. UNDERMARKED !!!' agreed another.

'Shirley's critique was more a matter of personal taste and about the choreography rather than the actual dance…' pointed out one.

'MAMA SHIRLEY A 7?!!!!!! THAT DANCE WAS AT LEAST MINIMUM 8s or 9s WORTHY!!!! LIKE GIVE TABBY HER 10s!!!!' declared one more.

Tabby's score of 31 earned her joint second place on the week three leaderboard alongside Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby.

In the tightly packed score chart there was also a joint fourth place finish for Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin and Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu and two pairs tied for sixth – Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley and Will Best and Dianne Buswell.

Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb and his partner Jowita Przystał's Rumba was singled out by Shirley

Shirley was also accused of being harsh with her scoring when it came to the final dance of the night - Olympian Tabby Stoecker and her partner Mark Karmalita's Argentine Tango

Then there was a three-way split for seventh between Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon; John Nellis and Katya Jones and Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał.

Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr finished in last place with a score of 15.

After topping the leaderboard last week, all eyes were on Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington as they took to the floor with their Salsa to Always There/Ain't Nobody by Jocelyn Brown/Chaka Khan.

Loving what she saw, Motsi gushed: 'Brought the D.I.S.C.O, absolutely loved it, your highlight!' with an excited Craig noting: 'a-may-zing!'

And the judges were as generous with their scores as they were with their feedback, awarding the Australian singer and her partner 33 points – the highest score of the series so far.

For Sunday's results show, the group dance will see two teams of Strictly Professionals go head-to-head in the ultimate dance off: Ballroom v Latin.

It will be led by Anton Du Beke for Team Ballroom against Shirley Ballas a.k.a The Queen of Latin.

Craig Revel Horwood will be the referee accompanied by his assistant Neil Jones.

Strictly Come Dancing results will air on Sunday at 7.10pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

STRICTLY COME DANCING 2026: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

LACEY TURNER

AGE: 38

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Stacey Slater on BBC's EastEnders

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I'm so excited and terrified at the same time but I've had so many friends do Strictly and I thought it was about time that I plunked up the courage and made my way onto that dance floor.'

DELTA GOODREM

AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Played Nina Tucker in Neighbours and has released eight music albums

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career - from tv, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world, there is however one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor!'

CACH MERCER

AGE: 25

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Won Love Island 2025 and is a TikTok influencer

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast. Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can’t wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!'

DAME SARAH STOREY

AGE: 48

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Britain's most successful Paralympian

WHY STRICTLY?: 'Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.'

BETHANY ANTONIA

AGE: 28

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Plays Lady Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill.'

GRAEME 'THE DOGFATHER' HALL

AGE: 59

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Channel 5 series Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I have watched the show for years, so to be a part of it feels like a very exciting challenge, albeit more than a bit nerve-wracking!'

TABBY STOECKER

AGE: 25

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Olympic champion skeleton racer

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I’ve had the wildest year of my life so far, so to be rounding it off with a childhood dream of dancing in the Strictly ballroom is surreal and I can’t wait to get stuck in!'

MELANIE WALTERS

AGE: 64

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Gwen West in BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey

WHY STRICTLY?: 'Performing in Pantomime for the last 15 years, my Strictly ‘fix’ has always been watching in a dressing room rather than my front room.'

DANI DYER

AGE: 30

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Winning Love Island and being the daughter of actor Danny Dyer

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one!'

CHRIS APPLETON

AGE: 43

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hairdresser to the stars - including Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience. I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new.'

WILL BEST

AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Big Brother and previously TV

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I’ve been lucky to do lots of live telly before, but absolutely nothing like this. And I cannot wait!'

JAIME WINSTONE

AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Starring in films such as Kidulthood and Tomb Raider

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I am no stranger to a dance floor, but the ballroom is a whole new world for me.'

SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS

AGE: 44

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Footballer who played for the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City

WHY STRICTLY?: 'Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!'