Strictly Shirley: I’ve only had ONE date in 3 years
Judge’s plea over this year’s Strictly unknowns
THIS year’s Strictly line-up has been met with a muted response – but head judge Shirley Ballas pleaded with fans yesterday to give the contestants a chance.
‘First of all, I don’t think the BBC ever get it wrong. That’s just my feeling,’ she said. ‘They gave me a chance last year [as head judge] and I got a lot of abuse online and people didn’t even know me.
‘This year is completely different. I feel embraced, I feel loved.’
Speaking on ITV1’s Loose Women about the lack of A-list celebrities this year, she added: ‘It’s a diverse panel of beautiful people, all with a story. You’ve got an Olympic athlete in there, it’s just going to be fantastic and people need to give it a chance.
‘Everybody has their opinions, but they are just opinions.
‘It has to be a mixture of people and people will watch it, they’ll judge for themselves. Give these stars a chance
‘Everybody has their opinions’
and I know that, as with every year, people love to tune in, and this is going to be a great panel of people.’
Miss Ballas hit back at claims that it is unfair to include stars such as former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts who have dance experience.
‘Of course she’s done a little hiphop, but so had Aston [Merrygold, a contestant last year],’ she said. ‘He went out because he couldn’t do the Viennese waltz.
‘Just because you can bop from foot to foot, it doesn’t mean you can quickstep with another person in front of you, in frame, four arms, four legs, keeping your head to the left.
‘It’s a completely different story when it comes to ballroom or Latin.’
Miss Ballas said she would be happy to see Ranj Singh, who is gay, dancing with a man.
Celebrities put on brave faces as they arrived for their first day of rehearsals yesterday,
Former model Katie Piper, 34, who wore figure-hugging kit, admitted to nerves and Steps star Faye Tozer, 42, also appeared apprehensive.
But BBC newsreader Kate Silverton and radio DJ Vick Hope seemed more confident.
Mother-of-two Miss Silverton, 48, still had rollers in her hair as she arrived at the London studios dressed all in black and clutching flasks.
Miss Hope, 28, flashed a beaming smile – unlike fashion guru Susannah Constantine, 56, who looked unimpressed as she clutched on to her handbag.
Despite her dance experience, Miss Roberts, 36, looked anxious as she prepared to start learning the gruelling routines.
Strictly presenter Tess Daly, meanwhile, was swept off her feet – by professional dancer Johannes Radebe.
The 31-year-old South African, one of two hunks joining the show’s troupe, whisked a delighted Miss Daly, 49, into the air in his brawny arms.
Sharing the picture on Instagram, a beaming Miss Daly wrote: ‘Strictly shenanigans in the studio today … It’s always a highlight of the new series; the first day back filming with the cast (old & new!).’