Strictly Come Dancing viewers were left bewildered and in fits of laughter during the latest results show after veteran host Tess Daly appeared to suffer an on-air 'malfunction'.
The incident occurred on Sunday, November 23, 2025, as the 56-year-old presenter was conducting a routine segment. Instead of delivering her usual polished line, Daly abruptly froze mid-expression, seemingly unsure of what to say next.
The Viral 'Malfunction' Moment
For a split second, fans were convinced their television had glitched or that Tess herself had temporarily transformed into a 'buffering robot'. The moment was so surreal it prompted an immediate and hilarious reaction on social media platform X.
One viewer, @imshanereaction, perfectly captured the chaos, writing: 'That’s the first time I’ve seen a human being buffering.'
Another fan shared a slowed-down clip of the incident, adding a caption that suggested the blunder had a deeper implication: 'You can pinpoint the exact moment Tess realises she’s f***** up by officially revealing the Sunday show isn’t live.'
Reigniting The Pre-Recorded Show Debate
The awkward pause inadvertently threw a spotlight on the long-standing speculation about Strictly's filming schedule. Many viewers insisted that Tess's slip had accidentally confirmed the rarely acknowledged fact that the Sunday results show is pre-recorded shortly after Saturday's live main broadcast.
This theory seemed to be supported by a comment Tess made to former Strictly finalist and Pussycat Doll, Ashley Roberts. Daly told her, 'We look forward to seeing you perform later on,' despite the fact Roberts' performance was scheduled for the very show they were filming, indicating it was taped for later broadcast.
The online reaction was swift and creative, with memes flooding the internet. One popular post from @supertv247 read: 'TESS-BOT MALFUNCTION ALERT.' Another user joked, referencing the injured contestant and occasional announcer: 'La Voix isn’t there, that’s why she’s malfunctioning.'
A Show Facing Multiple Challenges
This light-hearted moment came during a particularly turbulent period for the beloved BBC dance competition. The show was already reeling from the devastating withdrawal of contestant La Voix, who was forced to quit after receiving a serious injury just before the Blackpool special.
In more serious news, viewers were also grappling with the announcement that another unnamed male figure linked to the show had been arrested on suspicion of rape, marking the second such allegation this year.
Adding to the sense of upheaval, it was confirmed a few weeks ago that both Tess Daly and her co-host Claudia Winkleman will leave Strictly at the end of this series. Daly has presented the show since its launch in 2004, with Winkleman joining in 2014, making their departure a significant end of an era.
In the midst of the meme frenzy, many fans defended Tess, pointing out that her brief freeze was a natural reaction to last-minute direction from producers. User @jak_7950 suggested: 'Not sure this was Tess, was probably an autocue error.' This defence highlights that such minor errors are an inherent part of live-style television production.
However, the combination of events has left fans concerned for the show's future. As one viewer, @janepercy, summarised on X: 'I think if they are going to continue the show needs a re-vamp next year, especially if Tess and Claudia are leaving.'
