Strictly fans claim Will Best is being treated unfairly with dreaded 'death slot'

Fans who have watched Will Best and Dianne Buswell dance from the very first week are now shouting that the BBC is stacking the deck against them. The “death slot”, the early‑night performances that come before the public vote opens, has become a lightning rod for complaints that the judges’ scores are unfairly low and the audience’s chance to vote is cut short.

When a pair opens a show, they are the first thing the audience sees. The energy is high, but the memory of the routine fades by the time the voting window opens. In week one, Will and Dianne were first to perform. In week two, they were mid‑show. Weeks three and four saw them perform second. Fans argue that this sequence forces the judges to score them against the freshest performances, while the public vote, which opens only after the final act, misses the emotional impact of their earlier routines.

The pair’s latest Waltz to “With You I’m Born Again” by Billy Preston & Syreeta earned a 25 from the judges. Some viewers felt that was a low score for a routine described as “full of emotion” and “one of the dances that fans were raving about the most.” Comments from users like kamor_ian0121 and Margot highlight how the judges’ score seems at odds with the audience’s reaction: “This was honestly Will’s best dance so far.” The discrepancy fuels the belief that the early slot is a deliberate handicap.

The public vote opens at the end of the episode. If a couple performs early, viewers may be distracted by later performances or simply tired by the time voting starts. Fans on X, such as xSuziBethx and Carlee3091, argue that this timing disadvantage is a structural flaw in the show’s format. The argument is that the BBC should rotate the order or allow earlier couples to have a dedicated voting window to level the playing field.

Will, who is also hosting the latest series of Big Brother with former Strictly star AJ Odudu, admits that juggling two high‑profile gigs is an “absolute dream.” Yet, the strain of maintaining peak performance on a daily schedule may affect his choreography and stamina. Fans note that when Will “turns Dianne into an actual dancer with that Waltz,” his talent shines through, suggesting that the “death slot” might be masking his true potential.

Given the mounting pressure from the fanbase and the growing narrative that the early slot is unfair, it is likely that the BBC will reassess the performance order in the next cycle. I predict that the show will introduce a randomized rotation or give early performers a separate voting window to correct the imbalance.

Fans are not just complaining; they are demanding a fairer system that acknowledges the emotional and technical effort the couples put into each routine. The “death slot” debate is a reminder that even in a beloved entertainment format, the mechanics of scheduling and voting can tilt the scales. Whether the BBC listens remains to be seen, but the conversation has already shifted the focus from mere entertainment to the ethics of televised competition.