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Vernon Kay responded to a blip in Saturday’s live Strictly performance(Image: Shane Anthony Sinclair/BAFTA/Getty Images )

Vernon Kay has spoken about a mishap involving his wife Tess Daly during Saturday’s opening live Strictly Come Dancing episode of the series. All 15 celebrity partnerships graced the dance floor that evening, performing their routines in a bid to remain in the contest.

The behind-the-scenes glitch happened just before La Voix’s performance, reports the Manchester Evening News. Presenter Claudia Winkleman was in conversation with EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal when she attempted to pass back to Tess Daly.

Realising her co-presenter wasn’t prepared for her cue, Claudia swiftly adapted by continuing her chat with the soap star, reports the Daily Record.

Moments afterwards, she received the go-ahead to return to Tess. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter

After La Voix delivered her American Smooth routine to Chappell Roan’s chart-topper Pink Pony Club, it emerged she should have made a dramatic entrance descending to the floor atop a pony.

However, she started her dance already positioned on the stage prop.

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Speaking on his BBC Radio 2 mid-morning programme in conversation with Sara Cox, Vernon Kay remarked: “We’ve done our fair share of live tele, and live tele is really difficult because anything can go wrong at any time.

“And I’m not just saying this because I feel connected to the show, but the one thing that always amazes me about Strictly Come Dancing is, touch wood, it never goes wrong.”

Raising the mishap, Sara interjected: “Are you talking about La Voix as well on Saturday night? There was an issue with La Voix’s pony, she was supposed to be descended from the ceiling and slowly lowered.”

Vernon responded: “Nobody knows until someone says, ‘Oh the pony was supposed to go up’, nobody would’ve known any different.

“It was brilliant because Claudia went back to Tess and then she was like, ‘Oh not now, hang on a minute, in a minute,’ but it was a lovely bit of live tele and they just handled it brilliantly,” Sara continued, commending the presenters.

Scott Mills’ temporary replacement also shared glowing remarks about Vernon’s spouse Tess from that evening, although not every viewer shared the sentiment.

Posting on platform X, one demanded Tess be substituted by La Voix as a host for next year’s series.

Another agreed: “2026 needs to see La Voix taking over from Tess presenting. I said what I said #Strictly.”

Supporting the presenter, a third remarked: “I think Tess Daly gets a really bad rap on #StrictlyComeDancing.

“I think she’s lovely, personable and always puts the contestants at ease. She’s a great foil for the judges, especially Craig.”

A fourth wrote: “Everyone is always so mean to Tess, please, she’s just trying her best.”