Strictly Come Dancing 2017: Shirley Ballas MORTIFIED after Jonnie ‘amputee pun’ blunder
STRICTLY COME DANCING judge Shirley Ballas was left red-faced after making a dance comment that was “awkwardly" misinterpreted by Paralympian Jonnie Peacock tonight.
Strictly's Shirley Ballas in awkward exchange with Jonnie Peacock
The sportsman, who had his leg amputated below the knee as a child after contracting meningitis, was told that he put a new meaning to putting a “spring in your step” by head judge Shirley.
However, the 57-year-old didn’t realise what she had said until the contestant pointed it out live.
"You bring a whole new meaning to putting a spring in your step. It was light, it was bright,” she said.
As the audience giggled, 24-year-old Jonnie interjected: “Excuse the pun!”
Strictly Come Dancing 2017: Shirley Ballas MORTIFIED after Jonnie Peacock ‘amputee pun’ blunder
You bring a whole new meaning to putting a spring in your step
Confused, Shirley asked: “What? No?” as Johnnie again said: “Excuse the pun.”
Horrified at what he had picked up on, she covered her mouth in shock as Darcey Bussell patted her shoulder in support.
Turning to her fellow judges, Shirley gasped: “I’ve said something wrong again, you know what I mean? But anyway…”
Viewers instantly took to social media, with one tweeting: “Did she mean to make a joke about his disability? Very awkward #StrictlyComeDancing2017.”
“#StrictlyComeDancing2017 ‘spring in your step’, ‘excuse the pun’ classic SCD moment!” (sic) posted another.
Strictly Come Dancing 2017: Shirley Ballas MORTIFIED after Jonnie Peacock ‘amputee pun’ blunder
Jonnie Peacock performs energetic jive on Strictly
A third added: “Can't believe Shirley said Jonnie had a spring in his step #Strictly.”
“Shirley didn’t realise she did a pun with her ‘spring in your step’ #Strictly #SCD,” said another.
A fifth wrote: “Did a judge on strictly HONESTLY tell a Paralympian with a prosthetic leg that he brought a new meaning to putting a ‘spring in your step’??”
Strictly Come Dancing continues tomorrow on BBC One at 7.15pm.