‘It makes the whole dance look like a joke!’ Strictly viewers slam Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernici’s ‘ridiculous’ Lion King costumes
Strictly Come Dancing fans were left unimpressed after watching Richie Anderson and his professional partner Giovanni Pernice dance in ‘ridiculous’ costumes on Saturday evening.
Radio and TV personality Richie, 34, and Giovanni, 32, took to the stage as Lion King characters Timon and Pumbaa for their Samba to Hakuna Matata as part of the BBC ballroom contest’s Movie Week.
However, viewers were quick to criticise the show’s costume department, with many saying they couldn’t see the pair’s dance moves through their outfits.
Entertainers: Strictly fans were left unimpressed after watching Richie Anderson and his professional partner Giovanni Pernice dance in ‘ridiculous’ costumes on Saturday evening
Taking to Twitter, one person wrote: ‘Absolutely ridiculous! I know it’s movie week but those costumes meant you couldn’t see any detail plus Richie was all over the place @bbcstrictly.’
Another viewer posted: ‘Costume department have done Richie and Giovanni dirty tonight. Can’t we do away with ridiculous outfits like this? It makes the whole dance look like a joke. Yes, I’m in a bad mood. #Strictly.’
Giving them a score of five, another viewer shared: ‘RICHIE, Samba – well that was a thing. Too much faffing at the start. Visible mistakes in the footwork, plenty of timing issues, rather stiff arms and lack of bounce. Could just about see the hip action in those costumes. Character YES, technique NOOOO. Soz. 5 #strictly.’
Born to perform: Radio and TV personality Richie, 34, and Giovanni, 32, took to the stage as Lion King characters Timon and Pumbaa for their Samba to Hakuna Matata
‘Richie and Gio,’ began another audience member, ‘Not sure I could really see the dancing behind those costumes, but tremendous fun, and whether in a ridiculous costume or not, Gio gives good Samba.’
Someone else wrote: ‘Fair play to Giovanni and Richie for somehow managing to dance in those straight-off-Amazon costumes. I’m dead #strictly.’
‘Richie and Giovanni have been done dirty with their costumes #Strictly,’ wrote another viewer. While someone else shared: ‘Richie and Giovanni’s costumes look so budget #strictly.’
Done dirty: However, viewers were quick to criticise the show’s costume department, with many saying they couldn’t see the pair’s dance moves through their outfits
After their performance, which was the first of the celebrity dances, host Tess Daly said: ‘What a great opener. You bring so much fun to this dance floor.’
Head judge Shirley Ballas said: ‘I don’t think I’ll ever look at Giovanni the same again. First of all, an awful lot of content. Overall I would have to say this is some of your best numbers so far.’
Meanwhile, Craig Revel-Horwood said: ‘For me it lacked fluidity, darling, there needed to be more bounce. I did absolutely love the characterisation.’
Positive words: After their performance, which was the first of the celebrity dances, host Tess Daly said: ‘What a great opener. You bring so much fun to this dance floor’
Points mean prizes? Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke awarded the pair a total of 27 points out of 40
Fellow judge Motsi Mabuse added: ‘What a way to start movie night, I think you played the character so fun.’
Radio DJ Zoe Ball cheered from the crowd as the pair scored 27.
Tyler West and Dianne Buswell topped the leaderboard on Saturday, with the pair scoring an impressive 38 points out of 40 with their Charleston to Flash, Bang, Wallop! from Half a Sixpence.
Moving on: The pair have brushed off recent rumours of a feud behind the scenes – following reports that they ‘haven’t clicked’ off camera
It comes after Richie and Giovanni were plagued by rumours of a fued off of the camera, with sources telling The Sun that professional dancer Giovanni was becoming frustrated with Richie not listening to him in rehearsals.
One insider said: ‘The pair haven’t clicked. Richie is so swept up by the whole experience that he is talking 100 words a minute, and it can be hard for Giovanni.
‘He has told pals that Richie talks instead of listening during training, and it is frustrating.’
They then added that it was early days and they were still getting used to each other: ‘Giovanni thinks Richie has real potential in the competition.’
However, a source close to the pair told MailOnline: ‘Talk of them not getting on is nonsense. They are having such a laugh and were thrilled at the reaction on Saturday night.’
Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One at 7:20pm on Sunday – when one couple will be eliminated from the contest for the second time this season.
In their element: However, a source close to the pair told MailOnline: ‘Talk of them not getting on is nonsense. They are having such a laugh’
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