‘I’m so sorry they didn’t like it:’ Ellie Taylor left upset by ‘cruel’ comments from Strictly judges

Ellie Taylor apologised to Johannes Radebe after “cruel” judges’ comments in the latest episode of Strictly.

The comedian, who appears in Ted Lasso, performed a Rumba to Heart’s power ballad “Alone” on Saturday’s instalment of the BBC competition (5 November).

Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood were not fans of the dance, though, and gave Taylor negative comments and a score of five and three.

Despite awarding Taylor seven points, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke were also not as impressed as they have been in recent weeks.

Taylor appeared visibly upset by the comments, and, while being interviewed by Claudia Winkleman about the performance, said to her professional partner Radebes: “I’m just so sorry they didn’t like it.”

The comedian said that she struggled with the Rumba due to it being “emotional” and “serious”, adding that she finds it “hard to take myself seriously”.

After the scores were given, Taylor buried her head into Radebes’s shoulder, and viewers criticised the judges for their scores on social media.

“She danced great and they were downright cruel,” one viewer wrote, adding: “Anyone would want to cry getting those scores this far into the competition!”

Another questioned the high points received by Taylor’s fellow contestant Ellie Simmonds despite the fact she made similar errors.

“I’m sorry but Ellie Taylor did not deserve those low marks for her dance. Terrible from Craig. Ellie S had no swivel in her Charleston feet and picked up ten extra points.”

“Ellie Taylor has been so good on #Strictly and yet the judges keep undermarking her and really lowering her confidence,” a fan of Taylor’s concluded.