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Paul Daniels accused of homophobia over sausage jibe

Strictly Come Dancing was hit by a string of viewers’ complaints following a quip directed at judge Craig Revel Horwood by contestant Paul Daniels.

Dozens of viewers contacted the BBC to protest after Daniels, 72, told Revel Horwood not to give up ‘his day job tasting sausages’ on the first show of the new series.

The Australian-born judge, 45, has openly talked about his homo sex uality in the past and his life with partner Grant MacPherson.

Paul and his dance partner, Orla, moments before the magician made a quip at judge Craig Revel-Horwood

Many viewers assumed Daniels was taunting him about his sex uality and vented their fury on a BBC website and on Twitter.

One of them branded Daniels ‘a t**t’ and another described the magician’s comments as a ‘s**t joke from a dinosaur’.

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One viewer who complained on Twitter said: ‘Found Paul Daniels’ comments to Craig Revel Horwood offensive and homophobic. That kind of Jim Davidson derogatory humour aimed at gay people is simply not acceptable in today’s UK.’

Another protested: ‘I was quite disgusted – totally homophobic and uncalled for. I know the show is after the watershed but comments like this should not be broadcast.’

Australian Craig Revel-Horwood told not to give up 'his day job tasting sausages'

But it appeared last night that Daniels was actually referring to Revel Horwood’s upcoming role promoting British Sausage Week, which is launched on November 1. And both Daniels and Revel Horwood yesterday posted messages on their Twitter sites in an attempt to defuse the row.

Daniels, himself a former frontman of Sausage Week, wrote: ‘Media this morn trying to make me homophobic. Crazy. Why do journos and editors want to live in a nasty world of their own creation.’

Revel Horwood wrote on his Twitter page: ‘Paul Daniels was naturally referring to my being crowned King of the Sizzle for sausage week!’

But some angry viewers were unconvinced. One wrote: ‘I strongly suspect that PD knew exactly what meaning could be read into the comment. He will protest his innocence whilst smirking.’

Strictly Come Dancing, which is hosted by Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly and is one of the BBC’s biggest hits, launched its new series on Friday. Fourteen celebrities are taking part and seven of them, including Daniels, performed their first dances on Friday’s show.

The results awarded to Paul and Orla for their performance

Not so magical: Paul Daniels and Orla Jordan in action and stunned by Revel Horwood and his score of just two

Daniels and his partner Orla Jordan performed the cha-cha-cha and received some of the harshest comments of the night and the lowest score. 

The routine began with Daniels reprising his role as a magician and conjuring his partner out of a box, then the pair danced to the pop classic Could It Be Magic.

Revel Horwood was the most acerbic judge in his comments about the performance. 

He said the best thing about the routine was the empty box and criticised Daniels for lip-syncing along to the song. 

He said: ‘You were lip-syncing for your life, darling,’ adding: ‘I would move on before I get technical, darling.’

It was then that Daniels made the comment about the sausages.

Seconds later, Revel Horwood was booed by the audience when he gave the couple just two points out of a possible ten. The three other judges awarded them a further 14 points, taking their final score to 16.

Paul and his partner in competing in this week's Strictly Come Dancing

Bruce Forsyth, who ignored the comment about sausages, praised Daniels for being a good sport and for being entertaining.

A BBC spokeswoman insisted last night that Daniels’ comments related to the fact that Revel Horwood was fronting National Sausage Week.

A spokesman for British Sausage Week described the comments as ‘a lovely light-hearted quip’ that had been misunderstood by some people.' 

He added: ‘We are sure no offence was meant.’