Kelvin Fletcher leaves Strictly Come Dancing judges lost for words with ‘sensual’ rumba

Even Craig Revel Horwood couldn't find fault with Fletcher and Oti Mabuse's routine

The Strictly Come Dancing judging panel were left speechless after Kelvin Fletcher and dance partner Oti Mabuse wowed them with a ‘sensual’ rumba.

The former Emmerdale star, 35, and the Strictly professional, 29, danced to Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers during the fourth live show of this year’s series.

Ahead of their performance, the actor joked that the pair would dedicate their routine to head judge Shirley Ballas, as the rumba is her “favourite dance.”

Ballas certainly seemed to approve, as she took to her feet when the routine finished, leading the audience in a standing ovation.

BBC / Guy Levy

Even Craig Revel Horwood, who is notoriously difficult to please, struggled to find fault with the dance, telling Fletcher and Mabuse: “It was full of machismo which I absolutely loved, it oozed masculinity… it was filth!”

Fellow panellist Motsi Mabuse then joked that the routine had “finished Craig off” before joking that she had felt uncomfortable watching Fletcher dance with her younger sister, telling him: “Hold on that’s my sister, stop it!”

She went on to compliment their pair on their dance skills adding: “Well done guys, so much good quality in there. Beautiful dancing!”

When the time came for Ballas to give her comments, she also appeared lost for words, telling Fletcher, “I don’t know which bit to start with” before getting a little carried away describing him as “a very, very masculine man with scintillating and sensual hip action, a beautiful leg action, with sensitivity of touch.”

“You just sent my temperature through the roof,” she added, before claiming: “I’ve never seen a man rumba like that; I’ve never seen something like that in the early stages of the game.”

Bruno Tonioli poked fun at his colleagues’ breathless response, joking: “We’ve lost three judges! Everybody’s hyperventilating!”

Fletcher and Mabuse received a total score of 36, receiving nine from all four judges.

Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Launch - In pictures

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The pair established themselves as early favourites in the star-studded dance competition when they topped the leaderboard during the first live show.

Last week, the pair received the first 10s of the series with their Charleston to Trip A Little Light Fantastic from Mary Poppins Returns.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on October 13 on BBC One at 7.15pm.

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