Is this a dance show or a popularity contest? Strictly judges’ fear after Pete makes it to semi-final and most talented dances are booted off
Strictly speaking, the judges are ‘furious’ that the most talented celebrity dancers are being banned from the show, while the less capable ones remain.
Craig Revel Horwood in particular is said to be ‘stunned’ at the way athletes such as athlete Montell Douglas and actor Jamie Borthwick have been evicted, while reality TV star Pete Wicks reached the semi-finals despite much lower scores than fellow competitors.
Strictly has always seen itself as more serious than other reality shows, but the judges and some BBC bosses now fear it is becoming a popularity contest.
Their concerns come after Wicks and the programme’s first blind contestant, comedian Chris McCausland, 47, reached last night’s semi-final – meaning at least one of them will make it to next week’s final.
The situation has created a dilemma, with insiders fearing the two men will gain places at the expense of others such as model Tasha Ghouri and singer JB Gill – who have achieved high scores.
A source said: ‘For the judges this shift was difficult. They are dancers and choreographers. Their entire career (and life) revolved around the best and the very best dances. So when you see that the show is about who likes who more, rather than the quality of their dancing… you could say it’s kind of depressing.
‘The thought that Pete has had a risk-free journey on the show, while Tasha and Montell have experienced the dance competition, has left those at the top wondering what the future of Strictly looks like.
“It will be more of a popularity contest than a dancing contest.”
Reality TV star Pete Wicks made it to the semi-finals despite much lower scores than his fellow competitors
Insiders fear Wicks will gain a place at the expense of others such as model Tasha Ghouri and singer JB Gill – who have achieved high scores
Craig Revel Horwood in particular is said to be ‘astonished’ at the way in which athletes such as athlete Montell Douglas and actor Jamie Borthwick have been deported
Ms Douglas, 38, was evicted from her home last Sunday after a dance with Tasha Ghouri, who has danced professionally. The week before, Mrs Douglas defeated Borthwick in the bottom two, sending him home.
Wicks, 36, and McCausland have yet to be in a dance-off.
Used exclusively to recruit experienced celebrity dancers such as Layton Williams last year and Ashley Roberts in 2018. An insider said: ‘Those watching at home love watching beautiful dances.
‘It is a pleasure for them to watch a perfect performance. But the landscape has changed and is causing a small crisis. We’re watching a finale where the dancing doesn’t reach the level it normally does, but instead features celebrities that people actually enjoy watching.
“But the public votes, and they have the right to say who they want on the show.”