STRICTLY fans have insisted one of the referees must be suspended after “overpainting” a performance “riddled with mistakes”.

of the evening Strictly Come Dancing saw the return of Blackpool week, with duos putting on outstanding displays.

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Pete Wicks and his professional partner Jowita Przystal danced the Cha Cha to the right Said Fred’s I’m Too Sexy.

Former Towie star Pete donned a pair of skin-tight pink PVC trousers for the occasion.

The performance failed to impress viewers and judges Criag Revel Horwood but Shirley Ballas loved it and scored Pete and Jowita and eight points.

The score did not go down well with fans who took to social media to lash out at Shirley for ignoring Pete’s mistake.

One wrote: “Shirley needs to leave after this series. So bloody unprofessional. Pete is getting ‘very entertaining’ for it.”

Another said: “Shirley is losing all credibility as a judge.”

Someone else wrote: “No matter what Pete does, Shirley praises him.”

And a fourth said: “I need Shirley’s judge status removed.”

It’s not the first time fans have lashed out at Shirley, accusing her of favoring Pete over the other celebrities.

After his dance at Icons Week recently, Shirley admitted that Pete’s performance had “quite a few mistakes” but still scored him a six.

One viewer at the time remarked: “WTF is this over tagging him every single f***** week.”

Shirley has hit back at the criticism from fans and insisted she has no plans to leave the show.

Speaking to The Sun, she said: “You know, I’m not going anywhere as long as the BBC wants me.”

Shirley added firmly, “I judge without fear or favor.

“I’m just someone who sits in that chair as the head judge to stay in my lane and judge the dance — legs, feet, body coordination, synchronization and chemistry between the leader and the follower.”