Telly Alex ‘doomed’

Prof claims ballroom is white ‘art’

STRICTLY star Alexandra Burke has no chance of winning “because she is black”, it was sensationally claimed last night.

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SINGER Alexandra Burke will not win Strictly because she is a black woman, a top academic sensationally insisted last night.

University professor Shirley Tate, who is described as a “cultural sociologist”, claimed Alexandra’s gender and skin colour “outweighed’’ her dancing talent.

She accused British TV audiences of having “stereotypical views” of black women – even though black BBC presenter Ore Oduba won last year.

Prof Tate, who lectures at Leeds Beckett University, said: “Irrespective of her talent, people will vote against Alexandra.

“Race will always have an impact on how she’s perceived by the audience, as she is inhabiting what they still see as a white performance art.” The public, she added, expected black people to be good at singing – but not at ballroom dancing.

Alexandra was in the danceoff for the second week in a row last Sunday.

But despite high scores from the show’s judges, the former X Factor champ is not receiving public support.

Some critics claim viewers do not warm to her personality and say she appears “fake” and “over the top”.

Strictly has had a string of black and mixed race stars who have made the final.

Beauty

But Prof Tate claimed Alesha Dixon, who won in 2007, received public votes because she fitted in with a “white perception” of beauty.

She explained: “Lighterskinned black women are much more acceptable.”

The uni website says Prof Tate “draws on black feminist, gender, critical race, queer, post colonial and Caribbean decolonial theory in black Atlantic diaspora studies”.

Holby City’s Joe McFadden is now Ladbrokes’ 5-4 favourite to win, with Saturdays’ babe Mollie King tipped for the boot in this weekend’s semi-final.

Meanwhile head judge Shirley Ballas refused to scotch rumours she will quit after just one series. Appearing on ITV’s This Morning, she said: “Nothing has been decided.” ¬

Strictly is tonight on BBC One at 6.45pm.