Alex: I’ve kicked trolls into touch
STAR’S STRICTLY DANCES WIN HEARTS ONLINE
ALEX Scott says she’s he’s shown racist trolls the red card... thanks to her Strictly tly success.
Former England football tball star Alex, 35, now a pundit, says she’s only had kind comments online since hitting the dance-floor on the BBC show.
She said: “The support I’m receiving on the back of Strictly is super positive. It’s nice and refreshing.”
The Strictly fan, who said it was her dream to appear on the show, added: “For them to message that kind of stuff rather than putting me down is really nice.”
Mixed- race Alex, England women’s second most-capped player, was targeted while analysing men’s games on Sky Sports and the Beeb. But the defiant star – partnered with pro Neil Jones – said: “I know I’m inspiri ng people. That’s why I didn’t quit football. I knew the change I was making.”
Opening up about the abuse, Alex said: “I had all of it, for being a woman on TV, for being a woman of colour on TV, that I’m ticking a box, death threats. The lot.”
Alex became Sky’s first female pundit on men’s Premier League matches last year. And she was a mainstay of the BBC’S World Cup coverage at Russia 2018.
She has been impressing with her skills on Strictly. However, last night she was partnered with Kevin Clifton for her couple’s choice dance to Ghostbusters in the Halloween Special after Neil injured himself rehearsing yesterday.
In a second upset, Will
Bayley hurt a l eg in rehearsals so also coudn’t dance. He and Janette get a free pass to next week.
Alex and now single Neil,
37, have formed a close bond
– but brushed off talk they are more than friends.
EMMA BARTON – Tango A classic ballroom tango and a great story of the King and Queen of Hearts created by Anton, but there was a lack of passion and none of the sexual chemistry that takes this dance to another level.
Emma has natural talent though so they are here for a while yet. Score: 28
EMMA WEYMOUTH – Charleston. With perfect poise and grace, Emma rarely puts a foot wrong and is naturally elegant, so her Charleston lacked the goofiness the dance demands. Great lifts though – she even looks elegant upsidedown! She’s creeping up the scoreboard. Score: 30.
CHRIS RAMSAY – Samba Spooktacular it wasn’t, but what Chirs lacks in talent or technique he makes up for in enthusiasm!
There were plenty of Halloween howlers. His hip action was so rigid it was corpse-like and his facial expressions are always pretty scary. But it was fun and fearless. Score: 23.
SAFFRON BARKER – jive. Every little thing she does IS magic!
Youtuber Saffron, 19, cannot put a foot wrong and her fast and furious jive was spot on.
There’s great chemistry with pro partner AJ
Pritchard, so they look like a real couple.
One to watch.
Score: 33.