Strictly accused of ‘patronising and rude’ move towards Paul Merson as fans beg ‘stop writing him off’

STRICTLY COME Dancing fans have come out in support of Paul Merson - urging the show to not give him "patronising" routines.

The first live show saw the football pundit make his debut on the dancefloor, performing an American Smooth to the song Vindaloo by Fat Les - now famed as a football chant.

Their fun routine, which saw Merson and pro partner Karen Hauer in special Strictly football kits, didn't go down well with the judges.

Craig Revel Horwood declared him "flat-footed and stilted" and said: "The American smooth is normally associated with Hollywood musicals, darling, Fred and Ginger it wasn't."

"I have to say, it was entertaining," conceded Shirley Ballas. "And what was great about you is you're coordinated. You know, you're a tall fella, you're a footballer, and you're very, very coordinated. You bought that part to the dancing.

"You had some nice lifts in there. Beautiful lift, you executed well," she added. "But with all that I loved, for the second time this evening, I'd have to agree with Craig. American smooth, I couldn't recognise, but entertainment!"

The pair were eventually scored 17 points, putting them close to the bottom of the leaderboard behind Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones.

Merson and Karen were later supported by Wynne Evans, who made light of the moment and told Claudia: "Can I just congratulate Karen, right?

"Because I've been sharing a dressing with Mers for a fortnight, and he still thinks my name is Gwyn, so how she taught him anything is beyond me!"

But fans have slammed the show for not giving Paul a fair chance with the odd dance style and song combination, something Karen admitted was one of the hardest things she'd ever had to choreograph on the show.

Taking to X, one fan said: "Right! I’m voting for Paul Merson every week now after that ‘vindaloo’ music stitch up and encourage everyone to do the same.

"When someone agrees to do this show, you should treat them with respect not make them a laughing stock IN THE FIRST WEEK."

Another agreed and added: "Well they tried their best to set up Paul Merson to look daft… Vindaloo for goodness’ sake! But I reckon he’s going to surprise them by not being too bad. And they can’t use that song against him a second time."

"Hope all Arsenal fans vote for Paul Merson for the entertainment!" said a third.

While a fourth said: "Giving Paul Merson Vindaloo to dance to and a stupid outfit, he didn't stand a chance Turning him into the novelty act from the start."

"I feel like they are trying to sabotage Paul Merson from the off," noted a fifth. "That was discombobulating."

As it was the first week, no one went home, with the scores now rolling over onto next week's scoreboard.

After the next routines, the vote lines will open and fans will have the opportunity to save their favourites.

Next Sunday will see the first dreaded dance-off, and the first elimination.