Strictly fans appear to spot pro Katya Jones instructing her partner Lewis Cope before the Instant Dance challenge as ‘cheating’ row erupts

Strictly fans appeared to spot professional Katya Jones instructing her partner Lewis Cope before the Instant Dance challenge on Saturday night’s episode.

The couples learned live on air which of their previous dances they would perform and had a frantic dash to pick out a costume, in what fans branded ‘carnage’. 

The celebs and their partners were band from speaking and were only given ten seconds to discuss their routine once on the dance floor ahead of the music starting, with the judges points added to each couple’s main core. 

Yet while stood on the stairs separately ahead of their Jive, Katya appeared to show a move with her arm and leg to Lewis in a signal – which viewers were quick to pick up on.

They had to stand apart to avoid conferring with each other but viewers spotted Katya appearing to stare at Lewis as she lifted her leg to the side – the very move they ended the dance on. 

Some penned on X: ‘No conferring till the ten seconds yet katya does this to indicate to Lewis to jump through her leg like on Blackpool night I’m sorry but that is cheating in the instant dance plain and simple #StrictlyComeDancing.’,

‘The one with no dance experience Balvinder was 2nd in Instant dance off. Doesn’t that say it all. Katya and Lewis cheated as she signalled to him.’,

‘Katya & Lewis SO had that final move ready to go *whatever* dance they were given……. #Strictly.’,

‘So much for the professionals not talking to celeb before the 10 seconds. Katya showed Lewis the leg move to do whilst on stairs and Nikita and Amber were shouting across stairs to each other before Karen danced. Surely that’s breaking the rules of this challenge. #strictly.’,

‘Katya was signalling to Lewis about what moves to do when they were on the stairs. But they were not allowed to until the 10 second count down. #StrictlyComeDancing #strictly.’,

‘Not Katya and lewis caught cheating in the instant dance by tik-tok… #strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.’,

‘Tiktok caught Katya signalling to Lewis while they were on the stairs waiting to dance. Despite Tess saying couples were separated on the stairs so they not be confirming with each other until they got on the floor. They cheated. #strictly #StrictlyComeDancing #strictlyspoiler.’

However others on X backed them up as they penned: ‘LEWIS AND KATYA DID NOT CHEAT IN THE INSTANT DANCE CHALLENGE!! It was never said that the couples couldn’t signal to each other on the stairs!! You’re all just bitter that he’s the best dancer and it’s pathetic trying to bring him down like that. #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.’,

‘People are saying they cheated because Katya signalled to Lewis on the stairs about the jump through her legs. But that wasn’t even part of the jive, just a bit of fun they did at the very end, and they NEVER said the couples couldn’t signal to each other anyway.’

‘if i see one more comment like this about lewis and katya – THEY ALL REUSED ELEMENTS OF THEIR OLD DANCES that is literally the point.’

The BBC has been contacted by the Daily Mail for comment. 

Elsewhere viewers were left in hysterics during the show’s ‘chaotic’ first ever Instant Dance challenge.

As everyone in the studio appeared confused, with the judges swapping seats and hosting Claudia Winkleman sporting a fruit hat, fans begged for the mayhem to occur every week. 

Taking to X they said: ‘This is pure chaos and I love it!’: ‘The chaos’: ‘The Instant Dance is chaos and it’s not even started yet’: ‘This is chaos… do it every week’: ‘the instant dance challenge is carnage but So much fun!! I’m loving this,’.

Following the challenge the judges scored Lewis with the full six points, followed by Balvinder Sopal with five, Amber Davies with four points, Alex Kingston scored three, George Clarke two and Karen Carney last with just one point.

Earlier in the episode fans were left ‘gutted’ for Alex Kingston following the actress’ less than impressive performance, before appearing to spot her suffering a painful injury. 

The Doctor Who star, 62, was clearly disappointed after making numerous mistakes during her disco themed cha cha with  partner Johannes Radebe, 38.

Despite her previously outstanding performances Alex took the slip-up on the chin and blamed it on ‘fatigue’, after scoring just 24 points out of 40, landing at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Judge Oti Mabuse said: ‘One mistake I can forgive, two mistakes I will look the other way, three mistakes? I am not mother Christmas!’. 

Later speaking to host Claudia, an emotional Alex said: ‘It’s never really discussed when your at the sharp end, how our bodies are suffering and my 62-year-old self is saying, what are you saying, but my spirit and soul is saying [puts finger in her ears] la la la, I don’t want to know, I want to keep dancing’.

Taking to X fans said: ‘Gutted for Alex. Just got really staggered and a bit all over the place. But she showed such humility during the judges’ comments’: ‘I’m gutted for Alex’: ‘Poor girl so many mistakes at least she kept going’: ‘I want to give Alex a hug’.

Later viewers at home appeared to spot Alex painfully limping and were left worried she would be forced to withdraw from the competition. 

‘Why is Alex limping? If she’s hurt herself surely it’s not a good idea to continue dancing?’: ‘Sorry it’s clear as day something is wrong with Alex. she’s literally limping just walking? someone get the girl a medic?! feel like even if she does make it through, this might be the end of the road’.

‘I really hope Alex is alright. She seems to be limping quite badly’: ‘Poor Alex looked like she was limping after choosing her outfit! Hope she’s ok’: ‘Poor Alex is limping’: ‘Was Alex limping then?’.

Following Alex’s performance influencer George Clark took to the floor for a quickstep alongside pro partner Alexis Warr, after receiving his first ever 10 last week.

Judges Oti, Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke were full of praise for the ‘classy’ routine, despite him also making a few mistakes.

Oti in particular gushed over George, and said he was a ‘step up from everyone’ ahead of next week’s semi-final, as the panel scored the routine 34 out of 40.

Then it was the turn of Emmerdale actor Lewis and Katya who performed a sizzling rumba, which saw them nab an impressive 36 out of 40.

Following four weeks in the dance-off EastEnders star Balvinder risked once again being in the bottom two after she again made numerous slip-ups.

The soap actress danced a jive with Julian Caillon, which Anton branded ‘super apart from the mistakes’ before the judges scored the dance 28 out of 40.

Footballer Karen then performed her couple’s choice with Carol Gu, as she paid tribute to her beloved mum who has supported her throughout her career.

Pro Carlos was left in tears after their colourful routine landed them their first ever 40, and sobbed: ‘[Karen] loves dancing more than me!’.

Last but certainly not least was Love Island’s Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin who also landed full marks for their jive. 

While Shirley said the couple had left her ‘speechless’, Craig pretended to be unimpressed and said ‘now for the truth, darling’ before quipping:’fab-u-lous!’.