SOZ...WE DON’T DO Z-LISTERS DAHLING
Craig snubs Gemma
STRICTLY judge Craig Revel Horwood has dashed Gemma Collins’ hopes of appearing on the hit series, saying she is too low rent.
He insists the show prides itself on booking “high calibre” stars and would not consider the Towie diva.
Plus-size Gemma is desperate to take part in Strictly. Two years ago she claimed she was in talks about appearing and now the 36-year-old is said to be “holding the BBC to ransom’’.
Having fallen through a trap door at the Beeb’s Radio 1 Teen Awards, she is understood to have told them she won’t sue if they let her on the next Strictly.
But acid-tongued Craig said: “It’s not very often that we have ® reality stars take to the ballroom. We generally have people of a higher calibre than that!”
Since Strictly launched in 2004, it has generally had actors, singers, chefs, comedians, TV presenters and sports stars. One exception was former Towie star Mark Wright in 2014.
For now, Gemma will have to stick to reality, having just signed to appear in E4’s Celebs Go Dating.
Strictly chiefs have revealed this weekend Alexandra Burke will do a rumba, Debbie McGee, the Argentine tango, Gemma Atkinson, a samba, Susan Calman, an American smooth, Davood Ghadami, a waltz, while Mollie King and Joe McFadden will be doing the quickstep.