Judge Motsi Mabuse handed the first 10 of the competition to actor Lewis Cope after his paso dobleThe Strictly judgesThe Strictly judges were left amazed by Lewis Cope’s performance(Image: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing may only be three weeks into the competition but the first perfect score has already been handed out.

Motsi Mabuse handed the first 10 of the competition to Emmerdale star Lewis Cope and his dance partner Katya Jones on Saturday night’s live show.

They had performed a paso doble for Movie Week, closing off the BBC show and shot straight to the top of the leaderboard for week three.

Read more Strictly’s Shirley Ballas ‘calls out’ professional dancer live on show over choreography

Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke all scored the duo nine points, while Motsi insisted it deserved the full 10.

Shirley had said the dance was ‘phenomenal’, while Anton praised that “control elevated it to another level, simply wonderful”.

Even Craig was impressed, offering that his “little finger slightly out of place but a-may-zing., and Motsi said it was the “dance of the night without question”.

But fans were less than impressed with the 10 being handed out so early in the competition and took to X to comment.

@camy__9344 wrote: “The concept of DWTS only giving 25/30 as the highest score after 4 weeks. Then Strictly giving out a 10 in Week 3.”

@Stepharrnee fumed: “A 10 on week 3. Please,” while @MJ_JJ061215 added: “10 for a trained dancer…now that’s a surprise. #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly.”

@SammyLouisee_ commented: “#Strictly a 10 you have to be having me on,” and @F1_Aimee echoed: “A 10 on week three?!?”

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Lewis is top of the leaderboard, with Amber Davies just behind.

Ross King is way down at the foot of the scoreboard. Chris Robshaw joins him in the bottom two.

But there’s still a chance of a surprise in the dance off on tomorrow night’s results show.