Strictly Come Dancing star Judi Love has come to the defence of Adam Peaty and Katya Jones after conversations around them “almost kissing” on Saturday night.
The performing partners sent pulses racing during the latest live shows with an Argentine tango to Fleetwood Mac’s Tango In The Night.
The sexed-up routine ended with their faces inches away from each other - and some fans are convinced that Olympian Adam attempted to kiss Katya live on air.
This is something that Adam has massively denied, and now his co-star Judi, who saved herself from elimination after landing in the bottom two this weekend, has stood by him by slamming the criticism.
Speaking on Loose Women, Judi said: “Do you know what? I think what people need to understand, when you're a dancer, you are a performer, you're an actress, you're an actor, you're a dancer - you're everything in that moment, and at the end, people don't realise you have to hold a pose.
“So, they're amazing. They're amazing dancers, amazing performance and that's what I saw - a performance that was executed and held in that position for camera, and for audience.”
Ruth - who appeared on Strictly herself in 2017 - confirmed Judi’s comment, discussing her own experiences of the tango she did with Anton Du Beke.
“You have to hold at the end of your dances. I remember the I tango did with Anton, it was very like this,” said Ruth, holding her hand close to her face to demonstrate.
“So you almost want to say ‘thank goodness that's over’ - but you're told to do that.”
However, Coleen Nolan wasn’t so convinced and said, after watching Strictly for years, this was the first time she found herself questioning the moment.
“I'm over romantic anyway and all the dances look amazing, beautiful and sexy some of them - all of that, and they're all beautiful people,” she said.
“But every single person that I was watching it with on Saturday when "Oh" when that moment happened.
“I've seen people hold before, and I'm not saying God in any way anything was going on, but it was... I kind of understand why people have talked about it, because we all went, ‘Oh, well what went on there?’
Since the moment aired on Saturday night, both Adam and his girlfriend Eiri Munro have spoken out to dismiss any kind of foul play.
Adam, angered at the accusations, posted a message that read: “To everyone who wants to see what they want your comments, your comments have real life consequences.
"I will not be overcome, or lowered by your gossip. Protect your energy.”
Eiri, who is the mother to Adam’s one-year-old son, took a far more comedic approach, posting a video of her wailing like a crying baby on TikTok over the moment.
She had previously posted a sultry Instagram snap saying that she “wasn’t worried” about her other half.
Both Katya and Adam are now back in the dance studio for another week of training ahead of the Halloween episode next week.
Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV.
