BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans say it's 'really not needed' as major change made before final

Strictly Come Dancing fans have slammed a major change just before the final. The BBC One dance contest returned on Saturday night (December 7) with the show's semi-final.

Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and professional dancer Aljaz Skorjanec kicked off the penultimate week of the competition's 2024 run with a salsa to Something New by Girls Aloud.

The pair were awarded 35 points by the judges with Shirley Ballas calling the dance a "beautiful performance". The judges also said the two could improve upon their transitions and lifts.

READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing's two favourites will 'battle it out' as both 'at risk' for final spot

Elsewhere, JLS singer JB Gill and dancer Lauren Oakley have scored 39 points out of a possible 40 after being praised for an "absolutely amazing" performance

JB, who is celebrating his 38th birthday on the all-important night, also received a cake with his face on it from his former dance partner Amy Dowden and professional Kai Widdrington after his paso doble to Requiem For A Tower by Clint Mansell which left him top of the leaderboard after the first of two performances of the night.

Meanwhile, comedian Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell performed a Charleston to When You’re Smiling by The Blue Vipers Of Brooklyn and were awarded 33 points by the judges.

But Strictly fans weren't happy that in the VT's before each of the couples' first performances, they were seen being sat down by the judges to discuss their highlights as well as the areas of their dancing that needs improvement.

@geordiegalg said: "The VT's with the judges critiquing before the dances are pretty excruciating to watch and not really needed at all. #Strictly." @ronan367 asked: "Is this judge’s critique necessary?