STRICTLY Come Dancing viewers have been left convinced that Tony Adams was asked to apologise to Shirley Ballas.
Fans flooded Twitter to suggest that show bosses had “stepped in” and asked the former footballer to say sorry to the head judge.
Tony made an apology to Shirley live on air last night
Shirley upset Tony with her comment last week
Strictly competitor Tony, 56, locked horns with judge Shirley, 62, last week after he slammed her for her “unfair scores”.
The sportsman hit out that the former professional dancer needed to “go home” following her critique of their Cha Cha Cha.
Shirley had some bolstering words and told him: “I love you dearly. Keep going because you’re what the show is all about.”
However, when she scored him four points, Tony seemed to lose his cool as he was heard yelling: “Shirley, go home.”
Last night, after performing his Argentine Tango and receiving high praise from Shirley, he gave a public apology.
He told host Claudia Winkleman after the scores were announced – racking up an impressive 31 – that he had a message for Shirley.
“I’ve got to say to Shirley, I made a comment last week, I haven’t got a clue – I’ll accept a four and I’ll accept an eight,” Tony began.
“I have got to apologise for my comment. Listen, don’t go home, Shirley. She can stay – because she is Strictly.”
Fans immediately took to Twitter to speculate whether Tony was asked by show bosses to apologise live on air.
“Has Tony been made to apologise to Shirely?” one wrote alongside a series of eye-rolling emojis after the show.
Another chimed in: “What’s Tony saying for? I am sure Shirley wasn’t bothered it’s just BBC One covering themselves.”
A third hit out: “He was definitely forced to apologise by the show’s bosses because too many people are telling Shirley to go home.”
It comes after Tony and pro dancer Katya Jones proved they’ve put their backstage bust-up behind them.
EAR ME OUT
I bought cute earrings from Primark but they left my ears with huge holes
The pals drew a line in the sand after Katya gave Tony a fierce telling off in his dressing room before last Saturday’s performance.
They showed their closeness in rehearsals as they sat together talking about dancing to Grandstand to celebrate 100 years of the BBC.
