Strictly Come Dancing fans have called for decisive action regarding one of the show’s professional dancers, Lauren Oakley, after her semi-final performance with JB Gill.
The dancer graced the ballroom floor with the JLS star on Saturday night (December 7) during the BBC One dance contest semi-final. Lauren has guided JB to the competition’s final week, stepping in for his original dance partner Amy Dowden.
Lauren, originally from Birmingham, was initially left without a celebrity dance partner in the 2024 series but was brought in to assist JB when Amy fell ill ahead of Strictly’s Halloween special at the end of October. However, when Amy was unable to continue due to a foot injury, Lauren continued the competition with JB.
Since then, they have been seen going from strength-to-strength, achieving near-perfect scores and topping the leaderboard along the way. But during the semi-final, everything changed for JB and Lauren as they received their first perfect score of the series for their second of two dances on the night.
JB and Lauren on Strictly© PA
It was JB’s salsa, to Red Alert by Basement Jaxx, that truly impressed the judges, receiving a score of 40 points. Craig Revel Horwood offered the singer a Paul Hollywood style handshake, pointing out that the Great British Bake Off judge was in the audience, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Earlier in the show, JB and Lauren had scored 39 points for their paso doble to Requiem For A Tower by Clint Mansell. JB, who was also celebrating his 38th birthday on the night, had been told by Motsi Mabuse that his dance “was the best birthday present you could give yourself”.
Strictly Come Dancing semi-final© BBC
The performances prompted fans to make a clear demand to Strictly bosses not to bench Lauren next year and leave her out of competing in the competition.
One person said: “Lauren Oakley should NEVER EVER be benched again!#Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.” A second agreed: “Another reminder that Lauren was never given a partner this year to begin with. A crime. She’s absolutely phenomenal. #Strictly.”
JB and Lauren on Strictly© PA
A third added: “Lauren has to be guaranteed a partner next year she can never be benched again #Strictly.” Another online user posted: “I hope Lauren gets a partner next year. She’s brilliant! #strictly.”
As a fifth person demanded: “I don’t want to see Lauren without a partner at the start of a series ever again! !#strictly.
Finally a sixth shared the same sentiment, adding: “The way Lauren has stepped in to partner JB and the STANDARD she has bought since shows it is an absolute travesty she didn’t have a partner from the start and she better have a partner next year!! She’s INCREDIBLE #Strictly.”
