Lewis Cope embroiled in BBC Strictly 'favouritism' row as fans blast judges' 'unbelievable' remarks: 'Using an excuse!'

And the pair managed to impress yet again, albeit while not quite hitting the heights of their Movie Week performance.

However, the feedback given to Mr Cope following his Week Four dance has left some fans scratching their heads, especially when compared to some of the comments his castmates have received in the first few weeks.

On Saturday night, judge Anton Du Beke called Mr Cope's Foxtrot "beautiful" but urged him to "dance together" rather than "dance with Katya".

As Mr Du Beke reeled off a few framing tips, Ms Jones hit back: "You told us to do that."

Mr Du Beke clarified that he still wanted Mr Cope to continue the technique, but emphasised his desire to see a more cohesive unit with Ms Jones, "enveloping her in his frame".

As the rest of the panel proceeded to deliver their feedback, Shirley Ballas's critique appeared worlds away from Mr Du Beke's. "For me, I disagree with Anton," she began.

"Every single week for the past four weeks, we've asked you to not throw everything in except the kitchen sink. That's what we've asked you.

"You've come out today, you did a beautiful lift at the beginning, you took care of this young lady, I actually bent over this desk to have a look at your feet, you had some lovely footwork, we're Week Four.

"I thought you displayed yourself today first-class. You took on board everything you've been told to do... You can tell you worked hard.

"I liked your frame for Week Four. Could you be a bit more over here? Could you do more of this? Yes, but it's Week Four, and you've displayed this, and you are listening. Well done."

While Mr Cope and Ms Jones were all smiles and celebrated their subsequent score of 34, fans at home began to complain of "favouritism" given Ms Ballas's remarks to other stars such as Balvinder Sopal.

The EastEnders actress landed in the dance-off last week, but beforehand, Ms Ballas had heavily critiqued her routine on a number of technical fronts.

Back in Week Three, Ms Ballas told Ms Sopal: "I agree with everybody with the grace and the elegance, although, at the beginning, this will go forward with your other dances, it needs to finish at the ends of your hands and arms, it all ends in the ends of the hands.

"So that is beautiful for you to think about when you go. But, when you have a slow, you have slow, when you have a quick-quick, it doesn't mean it is too short, small steps, and the footwork for me was by no means very good."

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As boos emerged from the crowd, Ms Ballas defended her criticism, saying: "I do believe that Balvinder is going to go far, but she's not going to go far if everything is mushy and everything is just you are great, because I want her to learn something."

The contrast in feedback, particularly with Ms Ballas appearing to dismiss Mr Cope's flaws due to it being Week Four while criticising Ms Sopal in Week Three, did not go unnoticed by fans.

On X, one viewer fumed on Saturday evening: "So Shirley uses the excuse for Lewis it’s only week four, however, she was incredibly hard on Balvinder last week when it was only week three. Unbelievable #Strictly."

A second also pointed out: "'But. It's week 4'. And? The non-professional dancers were getting more critique than this in Week 2 and 3, Shirley. #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly."

"Shirley saying 'oh it's only Week 4' for Lewis but had no prob ripping into Balvinder's ballroom technique last week #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing," a third added.

While a fourth fumed: "So Shirley will forgive any mistakes Lewis makes 'because it's week 4'. Will this also apply to female contestants? I somehow doubt it #Strictly."

Another complained: "'But it’s week 4' Shirley says to Lewis to excuse any issues, as if she didn’t rip Bal to pieces the week before on her first ballroom dance #strictly."

"Shirley, your favouritism is showing x #Strictly," a sixth simply put, while a fellow viewer sarcastically raged: "Oh look! Shirley not criticising a young man on small details because 'it’s only week four'.

"I’m so glad she’ll be just as considerate for all of the other celebrities, especially the women... just like Balvinder last week... #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly #SCD." (sic)