STRICTLY Come Dancing isn’t normally a show that provokes rage and upset.
It’s where the whole family comes together to feel warm and fuzzy, and to laugh at Claudia Winkleman’s jokes and Craig Revel Horwood’s panto insults and to wince at Bruno Tonioli’s flamboyant puns.
This year, however, fans are in uproar because many believe ex-Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts has a decidedly unfair advantage over everyone else in tonight’s final because of her dance experience.
While I agree she is clearly a trained dancer, and an incredibly talented one at that, I don’t believe it’s fair to lay the blame at her feet.
The poor girl was invited by producers to compete, and obviously was never going to turn down the opportunity of being part of one of the most popular Saturday-night entertainment programmes on TV.
Also the raunchy routines performed by the Pussycat Dolls are light years away from the pasa doble or the Viennese waltz, and we should all remember there have been trained dancers on Strictly before.
Debbie McGee, runner-up last year, was a ballerina who once had her own dance company.
She danced like a dream but didn’t receive anything like the outpouring of venom that Ashley has had heaped upon her head.
It must be horribly upsetting for Ashley and she has shown she is a real trooper by performing week after week despite all the negativity.
She was awarded four tens by the judges last week and still found herself in the dance-off, which must have been hard to cope with as well as humiliating.
Having said that, I am not convinced there should be contestants who start off at such a high level of dancing ability.
Ashley has been utterly brilliant from the very first week, and has executed every single dance style almost perfectly, but for me that’s not really the point of Strictly.
What we all love is to watch someone with zero experience learning a new skill and becoming more confident, daring and accomplished as the series progresses.
Last year’s winner, ex-Holby actor Joe McFadden, was what Strictly is all about.
He started off a bit clunky, but we could all see there was real potential, and it was a delight to see Joe improve week after week and to really enjoy himself on the dancefloor.
We all rooted for him and it was heart-warming to see the look of utter joy on his little face when he won that coveted Glitterball.
This year I so enjoyed seeing AJ Pritchard and Paralympian Lauren Steadman come from a standing start to becoming a wonderful partnership.
The way they overcame Lauren’s disability, and in fact made it irrelevant, will have inspired so many people.
When Lauren and AJ found themselves in the dance-off with Ashley and Pasha last week, we all knew they were doomed.
The judges make their decision based on the quality of the dance in front of them and Ashley was always going to be the one they decided to save, and it was unanimous.
Viewers were not happy and the backlash has not been pretty.
It’s obvious that on ability alone, Ashley is the clear winner.
But tonight it is up to the viewers to decide and we now know that Ashley has been bottom when it comes to the public vote, so it’s highly unlikely she will triumph.
We all love the underdog and the plucky trier, so although Faye Tozer is a beautiful dancer, it’s more likely that either Joe Sugg or Stacey Dooley will end up victorious, as they have been the ones to have shown such vast improvement.
I hope Ashley isn’t too disappointed and that she has enjoyed her Strictly experience.
But I reckon it’s time for the programme makers to have a rethink and make it a much more level playing field next year.
Meghan Markle sparkles
MEGHAN Markle looked absolutely stunning at the British Fashion Awards this week in this deceptively simple frock that showed everyone in the room how to dress to impress.
It’s hard to believe that Meghan is pregnant, as this was not a woman suffering from exhaustion, varicose veins, sore boobs, heartburn and piles.
Victoria Beckham must be fuming to see her coveted crown as Princess of Couture being effortlessly snatched away by a real royal.
Lucky to have Millies heroes
WHAT a night at the Millies, The Sun’s special awards that give us all a chance to honour our wonderful Armed Forces.
I was thrilled to present the evening, which was full of tears of pride and joy.
We don’t often have the opportunity to say thank you to the men and women of the Army, Navy and Air Force, which is what makes the Millies so very special.
As always, our modest winners all declared that they were “just doing their job”.
But we are talking about people who bravely run towards terrorist attackers to help civilians, who risk everything to save others and who patiently and kindly talk to those with suicidal thoughts and stop them taking their own lives.
The stories of heroism were remarkable.
We are very lucky to have such special people at our back and must never take them for granted.
Paul, I’ll buy you a pint
WHAT an absolute delight to catch up with Paul Heaton this week.
He’s responsible for some of the best songs of the Eighties and Nineties with bands The Housemartins and The Beautiful South, including Happy Hour, A Little Time and Song For Whoever.
These are intelligent, relevant songs that have stood the test of time, but Paul is the most unlikely of pop stars.
He lives in a modest house in an “ordinary” street and can happily pop down the shops for a newspaper and a pint of milk without being recognised, which is just the way he likes it.
His new album, ironically entitled The Last King Of Pop, has all the hits we love and some new material as well and Paul will also be touring next year.
Sadly there’s no reunion on the cards for The Housemartins, as Paul says it would be a bit like going back to an ex-girlfriend.
But we still have the music, and Paul tops my list of blokes I would love to have a drink with down the local.
Queens face an Atack
WE are told that Jungle Queens Scarlett Moffatt and Georgia Toffolo didn’t exactly hit it off when they both presented the ITV2 spin-off show Extra Camp.
Georgia, who won last year’s I’m A Celebrity, apparently didn’t feel welcomed on set and there was supposedly a bit of an atmosphere.
Unlike previous winners, Toff didn’t hand over her crown to Harry Redknapp on the night of the final.
Scarlett did the honours instead, which was a bit odd.
I will be very disappointed if there’s any truth in these rumours.
To be honest, I think both girls are very lucky to have landed such a high-profile and fun presenting job, and should just enjoy it while it lasts, because judging by her crowd-pleasing performance in the jungle, Emily Atack could well be filling the shoes of both of them on Extra Camp when the show returns next year.
Kids not pals, Ang
THE spilt between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt was more bitter than we thought if reports from the US are true.
There are claims Angelina told son Pax that Brad never wanted to adopt him.
Angelina had a fractured childhood and I can understand that she wants unconditional love from her brood.
But she was criticised by a social worker for indulging her children and trying to “curry favour” with them.
This made my blood run cold.
You should never try to be pals with your kids or to buy their love while not imposing discipline.
The six children were always in danger of growing up to be spoilt.
Now I reckon even Brad and Angelina won’t be able to afford the cost of all of the bills for their combined shrinks.
Babs so spirited
SO good to see our Barbara Windsor enjoying a night out with her husband Scott Mitchell and good friend Matt Lucas.
The three of them got into the Christmas spirit watching Snow White at the London Palladium.
MOST READ IN OPINION
Barbara has bravely spoken about living with Alzheimer’s and she’s determined to raise awareness of the disease, as well as funds to help find a cure. She’s also living life to the full with Scott.
Barbara was given a much deserved standing ovation by the audience and I really hope that helped both of them, as they are dealing with one of the cruellest illnesses.
She’s a very special woman and is not going down without a fight.
https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/strictly-come-dancing-fan-backlash-against-ashley-roberts-is-a-quickstep-too-far-its-not-fair-to-lay-blame-at-her-feet/
News Pictures Strictly Come Dancing fan backlash against Ashley Roberts is a quickstep too far — it’s not fair to lay blame at her feet
You don’t have to pack away your bikini just because you’re the wrong side of 20. These body-beautiful stars reveal their secrets to staying in shape and prove you can smoulder in a two-piece, whatever your age. Read on and be bikini inspired!
TEENS
Hayden Panettiere
Size: 8
Age: 18
Height: 5ft 1in
Weight: 8st
To achieve her kick-ass figure, Hayden – who plays cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes – follows the ‘quartering’ rule. She eats only a quarter of the food on her plate, then waits 20 minutes before deciding whether she needs to eat again.
Hayden says: “I don’t have a model’s body, but I’m not one of those crazy girls who thinks that they’re fat. I’m OK with what I have.”
Nicollette says: “I don’t like diets – I see it, I eat it! I believe in eating healthily with lots of protein, vegetables and carbs to give you energy.”
kim cattrall
Size: 10-12
Age: 52
Height: 5ft 8in
Weight: 9st 4lb
SATC star Kim swears by gym sessions with Russian kettle bells (traditional cast-iron weights) and the South Beach Diet to give her the body she wants. To avoid overeating, Kim has a radical diet trick – squirting lemon juice on her leftovers – so she won’t carry on picking.
Kim says: “I am no super-thin Hollywood actress. I am built for men who like women to look like women.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/NINTCHDBPICT0004550647442.jpg?strip=all&w=634
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