Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley has unleashed a furious rant against the Strictly Come Dancing judges during an appearance on the BBC's sister show, It Takes Two.
Madeley's Blunt Critique
Speaking alongside host Fleur East, Madeley did not hold back in his defence of EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, insisting she has been "consistently underrated and underscored" throughout the competition. He made his feelings crystal clear, stating the judges have got it badly wrong.
In a moment that left viewers stunned, Madeley declared, "I think Balvinder had been consistently underrated and underserved. She's had good scores, but I think she's been underscored by the judges, and she's clearly been underrated by the viewers because she keeps ending up in the dance-off."
He further expressed his confusion, saying he's "never understood" why she repeatedly finds herself in the bottom two, adding, "I think she's one of the best, I think she's really good."
Jive Jitters and Viewer Backing
However, his strong praise came with a significant caveat. With Sopal and her professional partner Jules set to perform a Jive, Madeley confessed he is not entirely convinced the routine will suit her strengths.
He described the actress as being "full of natural warmth and grace and charm" and noted she is "beautiful when she moves around the floor". Yet, he voiced concern that the dance's rapid footwork might prove her downfall, admitting, "I'm not sure the jive is her thing, so I think she might struggle. I don't think she'll get a 10."
Viewers quickly responded to his passionate outburst on social media platform X, with many backing his opinion. One user wrote, "I actually kind of get where Richard is coming from with the Jive regarding Bal if I'm being honest. Bal is warm & her movements are so lovely, which is opposite to what's needed, I guess, with the jive. I think she'll bring the energy tho & absolutely smash it. Go #TeamBalian".
Another supporter echoed his sentiments, stating, "Also acknowledging that Bal has been underscored, underrated and didn't deserve to be in the DOs. Absolutely all of this."
Bleak Bookmakers' Prediction
The timing of this controversy could not be worse for the EastEnders star. According to the latest odds from Betway, Balvinder Sopal is the clear favourite to be eliminated this weekend, sitting at 250/1 to depart the competition.
This bleak prediction heaps additional pressure on the actress ahead of Saturday night's live show. She is not the only celebrity in troubled waters, however.
Alex Kingston trails as the next most likely to leave with odds of 33/1, whilst Amber Davies stands at 20/1 to bow out before the semi-final, which is now merely two weeks away.
With no room for error, the pressure is immense for all three contestants. Meanwhile, the anticipated finalists appear far more secure, with George Clarke, Karen Carney, and Lewis Cope remaining the favourites to reach the grand final.
