Viewers believe the professional dancer was less than impressed as the judges delivered their verdict on Dame Sarah Storey’s latest performance.
Strictly Come Dancing viewers have been discussing Julian Caillon’s reaction to the judges after noticing what appeared to be his frustration during their feedback on his celebrity partner, Dame Sarah Storey.
The moment unfolded during the BBC One dance competition’s third week, which aired on Saturday, October 10, 2026. As the judges assessed Sarah and Julian’s latest routine, fans watching at home noticed the professional dancer shaking his head and appearing to disagree with some of their comments.
The reaction quickly caught the attention of viewers on social media, with several praising Julian for standing by Sarah as the judges offered their opinions.
Sarah Storey receives mixed feedback for her paso doble
The latest episode saw the remaining 14 couples return to the dance floor, with the competition continuing following the early elimination of Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden the previous weekend.
Hosted by Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, the show opened with an energetic samba from EastEnders actress Lacey Turner and her professional partner, Vito Coppola. The pair earned 26 points from the judges.
Former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips had a more difficult evening. His quickstep earned just 15 points, leaving him at the bottom of the leaderboard. However, judge Anton Du Beke offered him some encouragement, saying he had “all the components to be a super, super dancer”.
Meanwhile, Delta Goodrem continued to dominate the competition. After finishing at the top of the leaderboard the previous week, she and professional partner Kai Widdrington maintained their strong position with a score of 33 for their salsa.
For Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon, however, the judges’ assessment was more mixed.
The Paralympic champion and her professional partner performed a paso doble, earning 20 out of a possible 40 points. Anton described the routine as “dramatic and dynamic”, but fellow judge Craig Revel-Horwood was less enthusiastic, saying the performance was “a little bit stiff and lacked power”.
It was during this exchange that viewers began paying particular attention to Julian’s response.
Fans notice Julian Caillon’s reaction
As the judges shared their thoughts, Julian appeared to shake his head and respond to their criticism, prompting speculation among viewers that he was unhappy with the assessment of his celebrity partner.
Although the judges were evaluating Sarah’s performance, many fans interpreted Julian’s expression as a sign that he disagreed with their verdict and wanted to defend her efforts.
Social media users were quick to share their observations, with some finding his reactions just as entertaining as the performances themselves.
One viewer, posting under the username @GorkasJoe, wrote: “Obsessed with Julian shaking his head at the judges critiques #Strictly.”
Another fan, @Lauratct22279, echoed the sentiment, commenting: “Julian’s reactions are stealing the show as much as the dances.”
@MissMariee88 also picked up on his apparent frustration, writing: “Julian is not happy with the judges comments #Strictly.”
Others enjoyed the suggestion that Julian was prepared to challenge the judges’ opinions.
@lucymaygoodwin commented: “Julian snapping back at the judges actually made my night.”
Meanwhile, @claire_hayward suggested that his reaction reflected how strongly he believed in Sarah’s abilities. They wrote: “Julian was really upset, because you can tell he believes in her and if counting helps her, so what. She done really well, and I adore Julian.”
The competition continues
While Sarah and Julian’s score placed them in the lower half of the leaderboard, the pair’s performance and the judges’ comments became a talking point beyond the dance floor.
Julian’s apparent response struck a chord with viewers who appreciated seeing a professional partner stand behind their celebrity contestant, particularly when the feedback was less positive than hoped.
With the competition continuing and the remaining couples fighting to stay in the running, Sarah and Julian will be looking to build on their paso doble as they prepare for the next stage of Strictly Come Dancing.