Strictly host Tess Daly’s frostiest exchanges from Shirley Ballas to Scarlett Moffatt

Eager Strictly Come Dancing fans welcomed an array of different performances for Halloween weekend on Saturday, but the terrifying routines aren’t the only scary things that have happened on the dance floor.

Long-standing presenter Tess Daly has hosted the show since it first aired back in 2004 with the late and great Bruce Forsyth before he stepped down from the role and her showbiz bestie Claudia Winkleman took the reins.

But it hasn’t always been an easy ride for the blonde bombshell, as Tess has also felt the brunt of the judges’ harsh comments alongside her fellow celebrity contestants throughout her time on the show.

As we approach the end of the spooky season, Daily Star has taken a look back over the frostiest exchanges between Tess Daly and the Strictly judges as well as her celebrity pals through the years.

Craig Revel Horwood

Craig Revel Horwood has never been someone who’s afraid to voice their opinion and has often portrays the role of the Strictly villain.

Each week fans count on the Australian native to give the brutally honest truth about each contestant’s performance.

But the 56-year-old has faced his fair share of criticism for his cut-throat words and even beloved host Tess hasn’t managed to avoid his sharp tongue.

Back in 2018, the Strictly legend came under fire for calling Tess “dull” after more than 24 years working together.

According to The Sun, while the TV star was promoting his autobiography, My Fab-U-Lous Life, he took aim at his fellow work mate as he complained about his 2D persona on the show.

The long-standing judge claimed he can’t “be myself” while critiquing the dances, saying: “In those 10 or 20 seconds where I have to answer Tess’s quite dull questions actually … I tend to avoid them and not answer if I’m super honest.”

Luckily his co-star didn’t take his cutting words to heart as Tess later told HuffPost UK that he never meant anything “malicious” by his comments.

She told the publication: “He’s just Craig being Craig, he didn’t mean anything malicious by it.

“He’s a pussycat, he’s a darling in real life. I think it was taken out of context, a lot of it. He’s a sweetie.”

Shirley Ballas

Shirley Ballas may look sweet and charming, but the professional dancer isn’t afraid to stand her ground as she displayed her strength during the 19th series of Strictly Come Dancing.

During the first round of celebrity performances back in September, the judges confessed they were blown away with the talent on offer which resulted in some impressively high scores for the first week.

But it also meant that those who didn’t show a natural talent for ballroom received some scathing results.

And one star who felt the brunt of the criticism was The Crown actor Greg Wise after he performed the American Smooth with his professional dance partner Karen Hauer to That’s Life by Frank Sinatra.

When Tess asked the judges what they thought of their first ever ballroom routine, Shirley noted that the Hollywood actor had the talent and charisma but lacked the basic “fundamentals” of the dance including major footwork issues.

After her critical comments, the room fell silence as presenter Tess shared her thoughts on her harsh criticism, noting: “Shirley’s being very tough tonight. It is only Week One. Personally, I’m loving this partnership.”

But before Greg could head back to the dressing room, Shirley snapped back at the blonde belle.

She added: “Week One, but we’ve seen some fundamentals. We’ve seen some, so it’s important. It’s important for me.

“Just a few. I’m not asking for a lot. Just a few,” she concluded.

Nicole Scherzinger

But it’s not just her co-stars that Tess has had feuds with, as pop sensation Nicole Scherzinger made her feelings pretty clear about her distaste for the TV presenter.

The former Pussycat Dolls singer attended a live show in 2017 to watch her fellow band member Ashley Roberts perform her latest routine with her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice.

Following the live show, a lip-reading professional revealed to The Sun that Nicole had asked Tess to “not sit so close to me” while they appeared live on air.

It is thought the raven-haired beauty also told Tess “your hair is touching me” while they sat together ahead of the highly anticipated routine.

And hours later, the 43-year-old appeared to deny the rumoured backstage mumbles as she enlightened her loyal legion of fans as to what else was said on the show in a sassy tweet online.

She penned: “Tess: ‘Nice Dress!’/ Me: ‘Thanks’ *Looks Down* ‘Wow, together we look like Christmas’ *Looks up and realises we’re live…*”

“@TessDaly can sit as close to me as she likes and everyone else can focus on how @ImAshleyRoberts killed it last night! Have a blessed, positive Sunday! Xo.”

And it seems she wasn’t the only one who noticed the seemingly awkward discussion, as the starlet was flooded with a wave of positive comments from her doting fans, with one writing: “Well said Nicole!! And we were so happy to see you supporting Ashley!! You’re so right, she was phenomenal!”

Scarlett Moffatt

Nicole isn’t the only celebrity who has been addressed her apparent feud with the Strictly host, as I’m A Celeb’s Scarlett Moffatt spoke about her hated for the celebrity mum in 2016.

Shortly after she appeared in the jungle, the brunette beauty wasted no time in taking a swipe at the blonde belle and slammed her personality and hosting technique in an interview with Heat magazine.

The reality star confessed she sees Tess as nothing more than a “blonde lady with boobs” as she admitted her presence on the show is the main reason she doesn’t watch Strictly live.

She told the publication: “I don’t get her. She has no enthusiasm in her voice, she just sucks the excitement out of everything.

“She’s like an eight-year-old boy’s idea of how to draw a pretty lady. She’s be a blonde lady with boobies and a face.”

She concluded: “Tess totally ruins Strictly for me. I have to record it, so I can fast-forward through her.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk