The BBC's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special has been plunged into a fresh 'fix' controversy after it was revealed one of the celebrity contestants received professional dance training as a child from current judge, Anton Du Beke.
The Spark of Controversy
TV personality Scarlett Moffatt, 35, was the first star announced for this year's festive edition, fulfilling years of speculation about her joining the show. However, the booking has reportedly angered show insiders due to her extensive dance background, which included being coached by Du Beke when she was younger.
A Strictly insider told the Mail: “Scarlett is a trained dancer, she is so good at it and spent much of her childhood doing ballroom and Latin dancing. Anton even helped her and now he will be judging her against others. It all feels very unfair.”
The source added that she is now the clear favourite to win the Christmas glitterball trophy, questioning the fairness for other contestants. “She will surely be the runaway winner and then the BBC will be desperate to sign her for the 2026 series. How would you feel if you were one of the others?” they said.
Scarlett Moffatt's Dance Background
Scarlett Moffatt competed in national dance competitions throughout her childhood before pausing to attend university in York. After a 15-year break from competitive ballroom, she made a return in October 2024 at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, securing two second-place and two third-place finishes with her partner.
Despite her experience, Scarlett has played down her current prowess. Speaking to The Sun, she explained the disconnect between her muscle memory and her current ability. “It’s funny because I think in my brain, ‘oh yeah, that’s what I’m doing’. But then I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I’m like, ‘oh, something’s not connected’,” she said.
She emphasised that the Christmas special is about “the sheer joy of it,” and that she is simply having fun. The star, who gave birth to her son Jude in 2023, also shared her pride at returning to her childhood passion.
Partnership and Preparation
For the special, Moffatt will be partnered with Italian professional Vito Coppola, 33, a previous Glitterball winner and finalist. She admitted she was “desperately hoping” to be paired with him, citing his energy and dance style.
As she prepares for her Strictly debut, Scarlett is simultaneously rehearsing for her role as the Spirit of the Ring in a pantomime production of Aladdin in Northwich. The convergence of her past training with a judge on the panel continues to fuel debate over competitive fairness in the beloved entertainment show.
