STRICTLY has come under fire after it emerged five celebrities have had a dancing past – but former finalist Debbie McGee says show bosses have got it right.
Eyebrows have been raised over the likes of West End star Amber Davies, who stepped in for injured Dani Dyer, and Billy Elliot star Lewis Cope’s industry backgrounds.
Strictly stars like Amber Davies have seen their dance backgrounds scrutinised[/caption]
Debbie McGee thinks the show would be boring if every star taking part had never been trained[/caption]
The Sun revealed that drag star La Voix was a student at a prestigious performing academy, while retired footballer Karen Carney competed in dance competitions up until the age of 15.
But Debbie, 66, who herself had a dance background before taking part in 2017, says success isn’t guaranteed when it comes to the BBC show.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun on behalf of WhichBingo, she says: “I think what I’d say is the programme would be very boring if everybody had no experience. So I think the BBC have been very clever in how they’ve brought different people in.
“I did it when I was older, so I hadn’t danced for about 30-odd years, but I never did ballroom or Latin. The advantage I have is I’m very musical and I pick steps up quickly. But even people who have had a background in dancing might be really slow at picking the steps up.
“The technique is so hard and that’s what the judges judge you on, which I never understood until I did the programme. The judges don’t go for the most entertaining one. The public will, which is why John Sargent and different people have got through a long way.”
Debbie insists the show would lose some of its magic if it consisted solely of non-dancers and that the current balance being struck is the only way for it to work.
She adds that it takes more than fancy footwork to win, rather it’s the progression and journey narrative that end up deciding the Glitterball champion.
“It is firstly that the public want you and they find a person that they like the journey of,” says Debbie. “And then it is down obviously to doing some good dance routines.
“The year I did it, Aston Merrygold went out in the fourth week. And really I thought he would win, but he didn’t appeal to the public.
“It wasn’t a great costume. It was a very sort of normal outfit and strictly fans love all the glitz and glamour, and that’s what keeps Strictly exciting.
“It really is, at the very beginning, very hard to predict. And near the end, those who get through to the finals, it could be any one of them.”
So far, it really is an open competition, with last weeks leaderboard topped by actress Alex Kingston followed by EastEnders‘ Balvinder Sopal and YouTuber George Clarke.
While Amber, Lewis and Karen found themselves battling it out for 4th, 5th and 6th.
It’s been a drama-filled week on the programme with Neighbours star Stefan Dennis missing this weekend’s show due to illness, while Vicky Pattison has been struck down by a mystery bug.
It Takes Two host Janette Manrara shared the news earlier in the week and added: “Stefan, we’re sending you our best wishes and can’t wait to have you back soon.”
Other Strictly stars also sent their best wishes to Stefan – who played Paul Robinson on Neighbours – with host Claudia Winkleman posting three red love hearts.
Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope previously starred in Billy Elliot[/caption]
