Drag performer La Voix made an audacious comment during Tuesday’s Strictly: It Takes Two about potentially filling the vacant position of director general at the BBC following Tim Davie’s departure.
Appearing on the show as Chris Dennis rather than alter-ego La Voix, the quip came after presenter Fleur East enquired about which roles the performer might tackle next after previously joking about stepping into various Strictly positions.
La Voix responded: “Well then, there are some bigger jobs that have just become available at the BBC beyond Strictly, so she’s got her eye on programmes beyond that quite frankly.”
The bold remark prompted visible amusement from professional dance partner Aljaž Škorjanec, who placed his hands to his mouth in shock.
La Voix performer Chris Dennis joked about the current BBC scandal
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BBC
The timing of the jest proved particularly striking, coming merely two days after the Mr Davie announced his resignation.
He stepped down from his role as BBC director general on Sunday after a Panorama programme was found to have misrepresented footage of Donald Trump.
The documentary had spliced together separate portions of a presidential speech, creating the false impression that Trump had explicitly encouraged the January 2021 Capitol Hill unrest.
The controversy emerged following a leaked internal BBC memorandum, believed to have been disclosed by Michael Prescott, who previously served as an independent adviser to the corporation’s editorial standards committee until June.
BBC News CEO Deborah Turness also tendered her resignation in connection with the scandal.
In his departure statement, Mr Davie acknowledged that whilst his decision was personal, the recent controversy surrounding BBC News had influenced his choice to leave after two decades with the broadcaster.
The It Takes Two exchange occurred when Ms East highlighted La Voix’s versatility throughout the series, noting how the performer had already assumed the responsibilities of presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, as well as directorial duties.
Ms East posed the question about what might be next for the weekend’s performance.
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La Voix and Aljaz Skorjanec found themselves in the dance-off during last weekend’s BBC Strictly
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BBC
La Voix’s response about eyeing the newly vacant senior BBC positions came with characteristic theatrical flair.
Mr Dennis, 45, delivered the line with apparent relish whilst maintaining the drag persona’s signature confidence.
The moment provided unexpected levity during what has been a challenging period for the corporation.
The performer’s appearance on the programme followed a dramatic weekend that saw La Voix coming close to elimination after scoring 29 points for a foxtrot to Cass Elliot’s Make Your Own Kind of Music.
Aljaz Skorjanec was stunned by La Voix’s comment
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BBC
The routine placed them at the bottom of Saturday’s leaderboard, resulting in their first dance-off appearance.
Chris Dennis revealed his alter ego’s genuine astonishment at surviving the judges’ vote against Harry from Gladiators.
“I don’t think she genuinely thought she was going to be saved, ever, in a dance-off, if that moment ever came up,” Dennis explained, adding: “She thought, ‘That’s it’.”
This Saturday, La Voix and Škorjanec will perform a Couple’s Choice routine to Barbra Streisand’s Don’t Rain On My Parade, hoping to avoid another bottom-two placement.