Alexandra Burke made a big slip-up on Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing when she appeared to accidentally call Shirley Ballas by the wrong name. The former X Factor star, 29 had been receiving feedback from the head judge, when she mistakenly referred to her as former judge Arlene Phillips. The moment came after Alexandra and her partner Gorka Marquez had performed a sensual Rumba together, and were listening to the panel's critique. "Thank you, thank you so much Arlene," Alexandra could be heard saying. Viewers were quick to discuss the mix-up on social media. One wrote: "I'm sure [Alexandra] just said 'Thanks Arlene' after Shirley Ballas' feedback. #Strictly #NameFail," one fan wrote. Another remarked: "Did Alexandra just call Shirley 'Arlene'??? whoops!!! #Strictly."
© Photo: Getty ImagesShirley Ballas and Arlene Phillips are often mistaken for one another
Arlene herself got caught up in the debate, replying to one viewer, who asked: "Am I the only one who thinks that @bbcstrictly @shirleyballas looks and sounds like ex judge @arlenephillips?" She wrote in response: "No. I'm told that on an almost daily basis."
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It was a difficult weekend for Alexandra, who found herself in the bottom two after failing to impress with her routine. The star eventually emerged victorious after going head-to-head with Susan Calman in the Sunday night dance-off. Gracious in her defeat to Alexandra, Susan told host Tess Daly: "I have loved every minute of it. Everyone from wardrobe, make-up, the runners, you and lovely Claudia, Zoe on It Takes Two, the beautiful judges who have brought such light into my life every single week, everyone involved in the show, the audience, everyone who voted for us, we got far further than we thought we would.
© Photo: BBCSusan Calman and Kevin Clifton were the ninth couple to leave this year's Strictly Come Dancing
"To my friends and my family and my lovely wife who's here every single week supporting me. Most of all, I’ve made a friend for life and Kevin may not have won the Glitterball this year but he's won Strictly for me."
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Her partner Kevin Clifton described the comedian as "the absolute epitome of joy and happiness… which in my eyes makes you a beautiful dancer". "So thank you for dancing with me and thanks for being my friend," he added.
