Ole for Ola, Strictly’s dance rebel

NOW there’s something new to worry about — TV’s Strictly Come Dancing might be fixed! Not so, says one of its judges, 71year-old Len Goodman, who rages: ‘The show is without question fair, honest and without agenda.’ But professional dancer Ola Jordan, 33, who has been on Strictly for ten years, insists that the judges overmark or undermark to retain the most popular contestants. It’s reported that Ola (left) has ‘burned her bridges’ at the BBC and ‘there’s no way back’ for her after this series. Surely that’s a bit harsh. Isn’t it in the interests of judges to keep popular contestants on the show, no matter how badly they dance, and to dump those they feel have not made their mark with the audience? Even if the judges don’t yield to such pressure, is it a crime for Ola to believe that they might do so? The audience is allowed a vote, too. Does it always support the finest dancer? It’s surely more amusing to watch bad dancers, like TV reporter John Sergeant and politician Ann Widdecombe. Remember At Long Last Love, a dire 1975 Hollywood musical starring Burt Reynolds and Cybill Shepherd? A despairing critic wrote: ‘See Cybill Shepherd sing! Hear Cybill Shepherd dance!’