Strictly Come Dancing 2026 host Emma Willis forced to apologise and correct blunder with Lacey Turner's scoring
Fans joked it was the producers behind the slip-upStrictly Come Dancing 2026 host Emma Willis has apologised live on air after a scoring graphic gave Lacey Turner an extra point.
Speaking on the show, Emma confirmed the EastEnders actress and partner Vito Coppola had received 28 points.
Lacey’s Tango to Blondie’s Atomic received a six from head judge Shirley Ballas, but the graphic displayed seven. The 38-year-old actress is best known for playing Stacey Slater in EastEnders.
Emma Willis explains Strictly score correction
Emma addressed the error before the final leaderboard appeared, apologising to viewers for the mix-up involving Lacey and Vito.
She said: “Shirley scored a six, but the graphic said seven. So we can confirm Shirley did in fact score a six, so the correct total score is 28.”
Her clarification concerned the on-screen display, rather than a revised mark from Shirley.
Fans took to X to react, with some joking that the technical glitch was the producers attempting to override Shirley’s low score.
“Shirley giving Lacey a 6 and a 7 showing on screen. They must have thought she was talking nonsense,” one fan said.
“Criminal that Shirley scored a 6 for Lacey Even the graphics tried to overrule it,” another wrote. ”
Delta Goodrem and Tabby Stoecker earn Strictly’s first tens
Elsewhere, the series reached a scoring milestone as its first tens arrived during an eventful night in the ballroom.
Delta Goodrem received the first maximum mark from Anton Du Beke for her rumba with Kai Widdrington. Their routine was performed to Celine Dion’s It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.
The performance marked Delta’s return after she missed the previous show with a fractured rib.
Craig Revel Horwood awarded seven, Motsi Mabuse gave nine, and Shirley scored eight, leaving the singer with 34 overall.
Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita then went higher, earning 37 for their Couple’s Choice to Olivia Rodrigo’s Stupid Song.
Both Motsi and Anton awarded the pair tens, putting them at the top of the leaderboard. That left Tabby and Mark three points ahead of Delta and Kai.
At the other end, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr finished bottom with 17 points.
Strictly judges clash during the live show
The scoring correction came during Strictly’s Saturday, 24 October episode, which also featured several exchanges between the judges.
“Thank you for telling me what I’ve already known for 22 years, darling,” Craig told Motsi during one disagreement.
Later, he picked up one of Shirley’s miniature shoe props and put it into her mouth.
Josh Widdicombe urged Lacey to head upstairs as the judges’ antics continued.
“Get upstairs because the judges are turning on one another!” the presenter told her.
Read more: Strictly Come Dancing 2026 fans slam ‘harsh’ scoring of Lawrence Robb’s routine
Strictly continues tomorrow (Sunday, October 25) from 7.10pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI technology to synthesise source reporting and structured data. It has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by our human editorial team before publication.
