Ben Zucker Faces Tough Criticism in “Let’s Dance” Season 18 Premiere

The dance floor is heating up again as “Let’s Dance” kicked off its 18th season on Friday evening with the big get-to-know-you show. Fourteen new celebrities took to the stage, facing the scrutiny of the tough jury for the first time. Among them, pop star Ben Zucker had a particularly challenging start, receiving both sugar and sour remarks from the show’s notorious juror, Joachim Llambi.

Glamorous appearance of the “Let’s Dance” jury (from left): Jorge Gonzalez (58), Motsi Mabuse (43) and Joachim Llambi (60) enjoyed the limelight

A Sweaty Start for the Contestants

Ben Zucker, alongside model Marc Eggers and comedian Osan Yaran, was tasked with performing a lively jive. However, from the rehearsals, it was clear that this routine would be no easy feat. The trio found themselves drenched in sweat, struggling to keep up with the intricate footwork. Zucker, though lighthearted, acknowledged the challenge with self-deprecating humor, calling himself a “highly committed movement dyslexic.”

When it came time to perform, their dance was met with enthusiastic applause from the studio audience. However, the execution was far from flawless. Steps were missed, and at times, one of the dancers would fall out of sync. By the end of the routine, exhaustion was evident, with all three men visibly gasping for air.

The Jury Weighs In

Host Daniel Hartwich couldn’t help but comment on their evident effort, jokingly saying, “You gave it your all, as you can see.” Judge Jorge González chose to be diplomatic in his feedback, describing the performance as “very entertaining” while acknowledging Zucker’s exhaustion with a quip: “This is no picnic.”

Motsi Mabuse took a different approach, humorously pointing out that the trio seemed more focused on singing along to the music than dancing. “I think it’s great that you knew the lyrics, but this isn’t DSDS,” she remarked, referencing the popular singing competition “Deutschland sucht den Superstar.” Her verdict? “Your mouths moved more than your feet.”

Llambi’s Sharp Critique

The toughest blow, however, came from Joachim Llambi, who took issue with Zucker’s stage presence. Particularly, he was unimpressed by the singer’s habit of constantly running his hand through his hair. “I think Ben thinks he’s hot. He was so in his own cosmos. He didn’t care at all about his dance partner,” Llambi remarked bluntly.

As a result, Zucker received only a modest eight points from the jury, making for a tough debut. Fortunately, the premiere episode spared contestants from elimination, giving him a chance to improve in the coming weeks.

With the competition now in full swing, Ben Zucker and his fellow contestants will need to step up their game if they want to impress the jury and the audience. One thing is clear—”Let’s Dance” is no easy ride, and the road ahead will be filled with both challenges and surprises.