Fuming Strictly fans rant judges are ‘throwing star under the bus’ in countdown to final

BBC STRICTLY star Sarah Hadland is flying the flag for fifty something women, as one of the finalists competing for the glitterball trophy this weekend.

But now fans of the BBC show are suggesting that the competition has been fixed, so that the 53-year-old won’t be able to triumph.

Strictly super fans believe that the judges are creating an audience bias against Sarah, through undermarking and nit-picking criticism, where other contestants have been given more leeway.  

Last week the actress, who started out in musical theatre, performing in Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats in London’s West End, danced a passionate tango with her partner Vito Coppola.

But despite a standing ovation from the audience, the judges were somewhat reserved in their feedback. 

Motsi Mabuse said, she needed “a little bit of softness in her shoulders.”

Head judge Shirley Ballas said that she did “Very well,” but also commented her stiff shoulders.”

Then Anton Du Beke came in with “The shoulders were the problem you got a little bit tense in the shoulders which gave you a funny neckline.”

For her last dance of the semi-final, Hadland took on a slick and energetic jive to the Pointer's Sister's song I’m So Excited, but again the judges failed to be lit up.

Anton Du Beke said: “I am sorry to be hyper critical but you’re a little hard in the legs.

Motsi Mabuse also echoed Anton’s comments by saying, “It was a little, tiny bit hard.”

And Shirley commented, “I do agree with Anton, I thought it got slightly ahead of the music.”

It was only Craig Revel Horwood who praised her performance, dismissing his fellow judges opinions as “rubbish."

He said: “It was fantastic, it was full of energy, sharp, kicks, flicks, and what’s beautiful about your dancing is that you slightly dance ahead of the beat, which gives it excitement.”

But even though the star of hit BBC sitcom, Miranda, has grooved her way into the final, a slew of Strictly sleuths believe that she is being undermarked, having never been awarded a sweep of 10s by the judges.

 One person said: “Although the result is dependent on the public vote, the judges are trying to manipulate the prerogative to disadvantage Sarah.”

Another echoed these words with: “I feel like they’ve given Sarah the short end of the stick.”

And meanwhile another pointed the finger at judges Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood.

They said: “Sarah will be undermarked yet again, yes I am looking at you Motsi and Craig, scoring 36-38. So she will never get the 40 she deserves, as it’s so hard to get a 40 on the cha cha cha and they’ll probably nitpick at her showdance.”

In the final Sarah and Vito will perform their showdance to the song, Cabaret by Metropole Orkast, a Cha Cha Cha to Madonna’s Like a Prayer and and American Smooth to Proud by Heather Small.

Also competing for the glitterball is former Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and her partner Aljax Skorjanec, former JLS star JB Gill and his dance partner Lauren Oakley.

Strictly’s first blind contestant, the comedian, Chris McCausland is also in the last show, with his partner Dianne Buswell.