Strictly Come Dancing: Shirley Ballas' 'Woodpecker' Comment Leaves Viewers (And Her Fellow Judges) Howling

That's one critique Kelvin Fletcher probably won't forget in a hurry.
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An unfortunate choice of words from Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas delivered one of the stand-out moments from this yearโ€™s semi-final.

In what was an otherwise quite emotional evening, Shirley had everyone in the studio (including her fellow panellists) howling, when during a critique of Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuseโ€™s Quickstep performance, she complimented the former Emmerdale star on his โ€œwoodpeckerโ€.

Even though Kelvin commented he โ€œdoesnโ€™t know what a woodpecker isโ€, those in the audience drew their own conclusions, with fellow judges Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood struggling to keep a straight face.

The judges' faces said it all...
The judges' faces said it all...
BBC

And while Shirley swiftly clarified she was talking about a dance move, a quick glance at social media proved the judges werenโ€™t the only ones with their minds in the gutterโ€ฆ

Love a bit of @bbcstrictly Innuendo Bingo. Tonight, first up, Shirley compliments @kelvin_fletcher on his woodpecker.#innuendobingo #StrictlyComeDancing2019#StrictlyComeDancing pic.twitter.com/URVBO7doBU

โ€” Lisa Bourne (@LMBBNamings) December 7, 2019

Shirley stop talking about Kelvinโ€™s Woodpecker!! ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚#BBCStrictly

โ€” Brendan (@Brendan_1977) December 7, 2019

โ€œKelvin, your woodpecker was amazingโ€ err, ok Shirley ๐Ÿ˜‚ #scd #SCD2019 #innuendo

โ€” Fiona Lamb (@missfionalamb) December 7, 2019

Shirley taking about @kelvin_fletcher woodpecker ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿ˜œ haha! #StrictlyComeDancing

โ€” DAVID (@_dab90) December 7, 2019

Catching up on tonight's #Strictly ... Kelvin and his amazing woodpecker ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ โญโญโญ pic.twitter.com/55dM2ds1L7

โ€” matthew zee-miller (@MattZeeMiller) December 7, 2019

Shirley somewhat taken aback by Kelvin's Woodpecker. #Strictly #filth

โ€” Grange Hill's flying sausage. (@lushattic) December 7, 2019

All I can think about now is Kelvinโ€™s woodpecker #Strictly

โ€” kiramadeira ๐Ÿค” (@kiramadeira) December 7, 2019

@bbcstrictly @ShirleyBallas @kelvin_fletcher @OtiMabuse @1madwoman1962 Shirley loved Kelvins woodpecker too funny ๐Ÿ˜‚ ๐Ÿ’– #Strictly

โ€” Sally Young (@11syoung) December 7, 2019

I am very pleased that Kelvin's woodpecker passed muster, Shirley. #strictly

โ€” gibbzer (@gibbzer) December 7, 2019

Shirley admiring Kelvins Woodpecker #strictly pic.twitter.com/uO7M8w9HiB

โ€” Teddy Pigtails (@TeddyPigtails) December 7, 2019

The following morning, Kelvin also responded to the comment on Twitter, joking: โ€œSuch a relief my woodpecker was noticed. Well, it was colder than normal in that studio!โ€

Such a relief my woodpecker was noticed.
Well, it was colder than normal in that studio!
๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜œ

Team #Floti ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿ•บ โค๏ธ Shirley ๐Ÿ˜#Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly2019 pic.twitter.com/273NAPuKpw

โ€” Kelvin Fletcher (@kelvin_fletcher) December 8, 2019

All jokes aside, Saturday was a big night for Kelvin, after he and Oti topped the leaderboard with their first perfect score of the series.

The semi-final marked the first time that the remaining couples had been tasked with performing two brand new dances, with Kelvin winning praise for both his Quickstep and the Paso Doble later in the night, earning 77 of a possible 80 points from the judges.

Close behind them was Karim Zeroual on 74, while Emma Barton and Chris Ramsey racked up 67 and 54, respectively.

In Sunday nightโ€™s results show, the last dance-off of the series will take place, after which the three celebrities in the final will be revealed.

Find out who makes it through at 7.20pm on BBC One.

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