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New girl Katya faces Glitter-Balls struggle
STRICTLY newcomer Katya Jones looks set for an early exit after being partnered with Ed Balls for her debut.
The Russian babe had said she was aiming for victory, declaring: “I am fierce, fabulous and would love to win.”
But her dreams of lifting the coveted Glitterball trophy are in tatters after bosses paired her with ex-Labour Shadow Chancellor Ed, 49. Bookies Paddy Power have them at 66/1 – the worst odds of all 15 couples.
A show insider said: “Katya was hoping to make a big impact in her first year on the show. But now she’s partnered with Ed that’s almost impossible.”
In last night’s glitzy launch show, the celebs were told who they will be teamed up with.
Romance could be in the air ED GLEAVE after producers paired singletons Laura Whitmore and Giovanni Pernice, inset. Singer Will Young will be with Karen Clifton, while ex-Hollyoaks star Danny Mac will dance with Oti Mabuse. BBC Sports presenter Ore Oduba is with Joanne Clifton and ex-singer Louise Redknapp is with Kevin Clifton. BBC presenter Naga Munchetty is partnered by Pasha Kovalev, US singer Anastacia is with Brendan Cole and Judge Rinder is dancing with Oksana Platero. Completing the line-up will be Olympian Greg Rutherford and Natalie Lowe, EastEnder Tameka Empson with Gorka Marquez and gymnast Claudia Fragapane with AJ Pritchard. have an advantage, it could be that.” Louise Redknapp was a judge for two series on BBC reality hit So You Think You Can Dance.
And she was even on the panel with former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips.
Now, the former Eternal star has admitted some celebs have a better chance of success. She said: “I think everybody comes to the table with different advantages.”
Laura Whitmore has experience in Irish dancing and wows her Snapchat followers with her moves. She is 8/1 to be champion while Louise is among the favourites to win at 6/1.
But in past years, celebs with dance experience have faced a voting backlash from viewers. Someone close to the show told us: “The public like to see celebs learn dancing from scratch.
“If they’ve already got the skills from the start, they just don’t catch the imagination of the public.”
However, Strictly defended their decision to invite famous faces with experience in other disciplines of dance.
A spokeswoman said: “Strictly Come Dancing is a Latin and ballroom-based competition and these contestants have not had any training in those specific areas.”
The new series kicks off properly on BBC One on Saturday, September 24.