Strictly: Chris and Dianne address 'under marking' from Craig
Strictly Come Dancing viewers have rallied around professional dancer Dianne Buswell after her Samba routine with comedian Chris McCausland received disappointing scores on Saturday night.
The pair’s score of 26 placed them alongside Punam Krishan and Gorka Marquez at the bottom of the leaderboard, sparking concerns about their chances of staying in the competition.
They opened the show with their Samba performance, which Motsi Mabuse praised for its energy and character, while acknowledging the routine's difficulty.
Shirley Ballas noted that McCausland "overcooked" the iconic Samba bounce, though she praised the "fabulous" character work.
However, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke criticised the dance’s fluidity and technical details, citing issues with posture and rhythm.
Dianne's reaction to the feedback left some viewers concerned for her.
Fans quickly took to social media to voice their support, with many calling the duo "undermarked" and urging voters to keep them safe from the dance-off.
Some pointed out Buswell’s uncharacteristically serious expression, suggesting she looked "fuming".
Others also speculated that her disappointment might have distracted her from guiding McCausland off stage.
One person wrote: "She didn't smile until she got to Claudia, then it looked very 'smile for the camera', and she forgot to tell Chris about the step, you could see in Amy's face she could tell Dianne was upset."
Another fretted: "Dianne looked so sad/worried."
Shortly after their performance, Dianne and Chris were interviewed backstage for the BBC Strictly Instagram.
They reflected on the challenges of the routine, with Chris sadly saying: "It's a horrible dance to learn and remember. Going on first... I mean, I just, I think I had a little panic and tried to overcompensate."
Dianne kindly reassured him that she knew he tried his best, and pointed out that some dances are more difficult to nail than others.