Extremely bizarre clip of Tess Daly ‘not being able to clap’ has been explained

Strictly Come Dancing fans think they’ve worked out why Tess Daly was ‘not able to clap’ on TV.

The BBC show hit our screens once again over the weekend as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Daly welcomed another round of celebrity dance-offs.

On Sunday evening (20 October) though, viewers thought they spotted something odd when the 55-year-old appeared to do a ‘fake clap’ on live telly.

Watch below:



As Winkleman was introducing JLS star JB Gill and Amy Dowden to the dance floor, eagle-eyed viewers couldn’t help but notice the way Daly clapped.

As soon as the audience issued a round of applause, Winkleman and Daly joined in, but it wasn’t your usual clap.

Taking to social media, some viewers thought her hands weren’t even meeting in the middle, while others wondered why it looked like she was ‘simulating’ the whole thing.

Strictly viewers have pointed out Tess Daly doing a ‘fake’ clap on the show (BBC)

In a viral tweet, one user wrote: “So…Tess Daly can’t CLAP?!?!”

Meanwhile, others were quick to explain what was going on it.

“When you clasp next to a mic it sounds bad, so you just mime. Is standard,” one penned.

A second commented: “When you clap near a microphone, the sound quality is low, so it’s standard practice to just mime the action instead.”

And a third said: “It’s what they do on TV.

“Remember reading something from Susie Dent (I think) a couple of years ago that they do ‘fake’ clapping on Countdown as it would mess up the audio, and instead just add the applause electronically.

Viewers have explained why the TV presenter clapped the way she did (BBC)

“Obviously at Strictly you have the audience for that.”

Someone else also agreed: “I wonder if it’s a mic thing. Loud clapping into a still switched on mic would probably play havoc with sound levels.

“I am also completely making that up so do with it what you will.”

Responding to the comment, the person who posted the original post replied: “Possibly, but at least make it believable.”

This comes after ex footballer Paul Merson was the fourth celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing as Gill and Dowden won the dance off.

Paul Merson was the fourth celeb to leave Strictly (PA)

The former Arsenal midfielder said: “It’s been really good. For anybody I talk to, I would say you’ve got to go on this show. It’s amazing – everybody.

“There’s a Tottenham fan over there called Lincoln and even he’s nice.

“It’s been amazing, honestly, amazing. I loved every minute of it, I’ve had a great teacher.

“She’s been amazing, absolutely amazing and I couldn’t wish for a better coach.

“I’ve loved every minute of it. I can dance now – I’ve won because I can dance, I couldn’t dance before and I can half dance now. It’s a bonus, absolute bonus.”

LADbible Group has contacted Tess Daly’s representatives for comment.