Maddie Ingoldsby Defends Choreography Amidst 'Strictly Come Dancing' Criticism
Professional dancer responds to accusations of 'letting down' partner Cach Mercer by asserting she is 'doing her best'.
Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Maddie Ingoldsby has publicly stated she is "doing her best" following criticism regarding her choreography for partner Cach Mercer. Ingoldsby, who joined the series this year, has faced commentary throughout the season suggesting her routines are "unfair" to Mercer.
Ingoldsby, 21, appeared to address the feedback in a TikTok video where she lip-synced to audio stating, "My best." The professional dancer's choreography has drawn particular attention from judges and viewers alike. During Saturday night's episode, judge Motsi Mabuse critiqued their cha-cha-cha performance to "Beggin'" by Måneskin, noting that while Mercer's natural talent saved the routine, it lacked sufficient technical steps for the dance style. The couple scored 24 out of 40 for their performance.
Mabuse's comments were interpreted by some viewers as a critique of Ingoldsby's choreography, which they felt relied too heavily on Mercer's natural abilities rather than adhering to Latin dance techniques. Social media reactions from viewers echoed these sentiments, with some suggesting Ingoldsby's choreography was hindering Mercer's potential and that he might perform better with a different partner.
In other Strictly Come Dancing news, Delta Goodrem and her partner Kai Widdrington received the first 10s of the series for their Rumba performance. Goodrem, who had been ordered to rest due to a rib injury, returned to the dancefloor and scored 34 points. Judge Anton Du Beke awarded them a 10, calling it his "favourite dance of the series by a million miles." However, some viewers expressed surprise at the high score, debating whether the performance warranted the series' first perfect score.
Goodrem detailed her injury recovery in an emotional video posted on Instagram, showing moments from her hospital stay and training sessions. She explained the pain of fracturing her rib and expressed disappointment at the setback but shared her determination to return. Despite the injury, Goodrem had previously maintained a top position on the leaderboard.
The leaderboard for week five placed Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita at the top with 37 points, followed by Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington with 34 points. Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby were positioned towards the bottom of the leaderboard with 24 points.