Tension between Strictly's Darcey Bussell & Shirley Ballas
With raunchy routines, cleavage-baring costumes and even a steamy smooch under the disco ball (Debbie McGee, we're looking at you), the new series of Strictly Come Dancing should be living up to its reputation of getting viewers hot under the collar.
But just two weeks in, fans have sensed an uncharacteristic chill in the air.
A froideur has descended on the judging panel, where Darcey Bussell, 48, and until recently the show's only female judge, appears on far-from-friendly terms with Shirley Ballas, 57, Strictly's new head honcho.
The tension became apparent in week one, when a nervous Shirley mistakenly called Holby City star Chizzy Akudolu 'Lizzy'. Darcey made no attempt to disguise her glee, laughing loudly and putting her head in her hands as Shirley tried to make amends.
Viewers have sensed tension between Strictly Come Dancing's female judges Darcey Bussell (pictured left) and Shirley Ballas (pictured right)
Later in the episode, Darcey offered constructive criticism on actor Joe McFadden's footwork – and Shirley saw a chance to get her own back.
'I have to slightly disagree with my learned friend,' she said, before doling out exactly the opposite advice. Darcey pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows.
Then on last Saturday's show the two women spent much of the evening leaning away from one another and pointedly cosying up to Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood on their opposing sides.
When celebrity chef Simon Rimmer waltzed to Liverpool anthem You'll Never Walk Alone, Shirley was moved to tears. And eagle-eyed viewers will have spotted that when she stood up to hug Simon after his emotional routine, Darcey put her head in her hands – once again.
When Shirley, 57, mistakenly called Holby City star Chizzy Akudolu 'Lizzy'. Darcey, 48, made no attempt to disguise her glee, laughing out loud and putting her head in her hands
On Sunday night's 'Dance Debrief', there was another awkward encounter. First Darcey seemed to snub Shirley's invitation to dance; then Shirley sat in front of Darcey on the sofa, leaving her craning her neck to see.
'Have Shirley and Darcey fallen out already?' asked one fan on Twitter. Another simply commented: 'Body language between Darcey and Shirley. Ouch.'
So what's really going on between the two Strictly sirens? Certainly, it would be difficult to find two more dissimilar characters.
Darcey, a former prima ballerina at the Royal Ballet, had a privileged childhood which saw her attending musical theatre school in London and sashaying from one gilded opportunity to the next, soon becoming the darling of British ballet. She now lives in Australia with her husband of 20 years and two daughters.
Shirley, meanwhile, is a working-class girl from Merseyside who started dancing at seven and worked her way up to winning world titles in Latin and ballroom.
She's been divorced twice, has a 31-year-old son and apparently has a thing for younger men (her most recent boyfriend was a Russian 26 years her junior).
Sources on the show say there is palpable tension between the pair. 'Shirley's arrived all guns blazing and that has put Darcey's back up,' says a show insider. 'She's theatrical and loud, whereas Darcey is reserved and demure.
There was more icy moments as the episode went on, with Darcey (pictured centre left) snubbing Shirley's (pictured centre right) offer to dance
'They are professional and civil towards one another at work but they aren't friends.'
The BBC has refused to comment on the dynamic between the two women. But fans who have watched them on set say the lack of chemistry is even more tangible in real life. One audience member who attended the live shows last weekend says Shirley and Darcey barely exchanged pleasantries.
Not only is Darcey said to be peeved at having another woman on the show, but she doesn't appear to like having Shirley as her superior. Some suggested Darcey fancied the top job after Len Goodman's recent retirement, although friends insist she wasn't in the running. 'She didn't have enough ballroom expertise,' one acquaintance reveals.
For a woman like Darcey – the only belle of the Strictly panel for five years – getting used to female company can take time.
A source connected with the show says Darcey dislikes the format of the judges' weekly entrance dance, too, which sees her paired with Craig, who had a second hip replacement this summer.
'She feels somewhat put out that Shirley gets to do dazzling moves with Bruno and she is stuck with a few steps with Craig. She feels this puts her in a bad light.'
She's also said to be less-than-impressed by revelations about Shirley's private life, after her ex-husband Corky Ballas claimed that Shirley cheated on him with at least ten men during their 23-year marriage. 'She worries it's bringing the show into disrepute,' a show insider reveals.
It doesn't help that Shirley is everything her clean-as-a-whistle colleague is not. Warm, giggly and girlish, she has a knack for charming everyone she encounters. While Darcey struggled to settle into Strictly back in 2012, alienating viewers with her Sloaney mannerisms, Shirley's only problem seems to be an excess of enthusiasm – professing to 'love' almost every dance routine.
Darcey put her head in her hands a second time as Shirley got emotional over one of the dances
Darcey, by contrast, has never looked more like an ice queen.
Sharon Savoy, a three-times world dance champion who competed at the same time as Shirley, says the woman she knows hates hostility and will be doing her best to get on with everyone. 'She will combine her world champion expertise with her hometown girl charm,' Sharon explains.
'Shirley was an admirer of my ballet background and I'm confident she will respect Darcey's Royal Ballet perspective and enjoy her camaraderie.'
Shirley may be new to Strictly, but she has buckets of experience. She's already impressed viewers with her dance-specific terminology and comprehensive critiques. All this only serves to show up Darcey, whose comments can sometimes be light on detail.
Also fuelling friction between the two is the thorny issue of pay. According to figures released earlier this year by the BBC, Len and Bruno both earned between £200,000 and £249,000 a year, while Darcey and Craig are on between £150,000 and £199,000.
As the new head judge, Shirley is believed to be on a similar salary to her predecessor. For Darcey, with five years' loyal service under her belt, that can't be easy to swallow.
Will they both survive? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain:these two dancing queens are two very different creatures.