Strictly Come Dancing star Paul Merson had some brutal words for judge Craig Revel Horwood after his comments towards his performance on Saturday night – urging him to play a game of football with him.
At the beginning of their performance, Merson was cooking at a BBQ with a prop drink in his hand, before he got rid of the glass and began the choreography.
Receiving the comments from the judges, Horwood slammed: “Obviously the drinks at the barbecue gave the confidence to do that. It was like a comedy dance at a wedding I’m afraid, it was really not good
“I don’t drink,” Merson mumbled under his breath before Horwood continued without acknowledgement: “Those shunts were terrible, you were glued to the floor and Karen did everything dancing around you. But I have to commend you on the lifts. The lifts were very good.”
Discussing the comments on Strictly: It Takes Two, Merson told host Fleur East: “I have never danced solo, I didn’t get it in the end, when it came to Craig and he said it seemed like Karen was dancing around you and you were just standing there.
“I thought well that was the whole idea, she is the pro and I will just stand there. If I was doing a football show and I had people like Craig who never kicked a ball in his life.
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer performed the Salsa on Saturday night
BBC
“[And] three weeks later I had a football match, I am the one who gets on the ball and gives him the ball every now and then, I am not going to give it to him all the time or we are going to get absolutely ripped to shreds and that’s the way I looked at it!”
This upcoming Saturday, the stars take on Movie Week where Merson hinted at a horse being involved and referred to his previous struggles with gambling and alcoholism.
He added to East: “I am dyslexic so there is not much I can do is there. Now we’re on a horse this time round. I lost all my money gambling, and now we’re sitting on horses. There was a BBQ and I don’t drink anymore, I mean, what’s next?”
Fans of Merson and the show also picked up on Horwood’s comment regarding the beer can and slammed the judge for his ill-timed comment and urged him to “do your research” on the stars.
Craig Revel Horwood said Karen Hauer danced around Paul Merson
BBC
Writing on X, one fan said: “He probably wasn’t aware, but Craig making alcohol-related jokes to an alcoholic wasn’t the best.”
Another person remarked the comment was “bad taste” and another said it was “out of order”.
Someone else slammed: “Craig needs to do his homework & research on the contestants. Unnecessary remark to Paul Merson. That’s a nasty comment from Craig! As Paul is a recovering addict I doubt he’d be having a drink at a BBQ.”
During Saturday night’s show, Merson also seemed to hit back at viewers who claimed that he looked like he “didn’t want to be there” – referring to his enthusiasm during the launch show.
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This Saturday they will perform the Cha Cha
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Speaking about their performance, Winkleman noted: “Your wife is in the audience, how is she feeling about all of this? Does she go ‘Paul, what has happened? Where have you gone?’ Is she into it?”
Merson admitted: “She was a bit like Craig to be fair, I showed her the video yesterday and slaughtered it and I was like ‘My God not you as well’.”
“Do you enjoy it?” Winkleman probed before Merson confirmed: “I love it. It’s not community service, is it? I don’t have to do it, I want to do it. I want to do it.”