WALTZES OFF WITH GLITTERBALL The Stace race
BBC keen to hang on to golden girl Does it matter if the celebs have dance training?
Pictures: GUY LEVY/BBC STRICTLY winner Stacey Dooley was last night expected to waltz off with all the best prizes after she wowed fans in the gripping final.
Insiders say the hot presenter could now become a mainstream star and may even bag a primetime show.
Stacey’s documentaries are often screened in late-night slots on BBC sister channels.
But now execs want to boost her profile and would love to see her fronting shows in the style of Louis Theroux.
They know other channels will be watching and they’re bound to be thinking of Breakfast host Susanna Reid – who defected to ITV after becoming Strictly runner-up in 2013.
Strictly bosses are also keen on Stacey, so she could be offered a role on spin-off show It Takes Two. A source said: “Bosses are really impressed with the way she has been received by the public thanks to her down-toearth, bubbly nature.
“They know other broadcasters will have their eye on her so are keen to keep her at the Beeb. They don’t want to lose her to a competitor – like what happened with Susanna Reid.”
Stacey, 31, and dance partner Kevin Clifton, 36, performed three dances in last night’s final to scoop the Glitterball.
Before the showdown with fellow finalists Joe Sugg, Ashley Roberts and Faye Tozer, Stacey hinted she would enjoy doing a couple of TV jobs.
She said: “I’m a documentary maker who makes serious programmes – but also I’m a young girl who enjoys the entertainment side of it.” FAYE Tozer and Ashley Roberts are both accomplished dancers, but not in ballroom and Latin. It’s a bit of a disservice to them to say they’re great dancers so they’ll be OK.
They’ve done so well because they got hold of the technique and got it into their bodies. It’s very, very difficult to dance at that level and they came up with some brilliant performances.
The criticism is unfair. Dance training does help initially, but I’ve seen some good dancers do terrible ballroom.
The expectation is so much higher for contestants who have trained in dance.
Then you’ve got Joe Sugg and Stacey Dooley, who have never danced a step.
I never mind who wins, experienced or beginner. We have the joy of the fifth judge – the audience at home, who vote. Viewers are the reason the show stays real and relevant.
Anton is one of the presenters of
Help the Animals at Christmas on Channel 5, Friday, 8pm THE past three years have been a challenge because my contestants had no dance experience. Working with somebody who has never danced a step, all the way through to putting it into these fantastic routines – that is great.
Yes, it is a dance show, but it is an entertainment show. It’s always entertaining to have good people and to have bad people. Lauren didn’t have any experience. As much as you create routines, you are inspiring so many people. At the end of the day, it comes down to the public – and they are going to make the decision as to who is going to win.
So whether you have got dancing experience or not, this show is about showing off the best things about people.
AJ stars in the Get On The Floor! UK Tour in March 2019 – see getonthefloorlive. com