Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Vincent Simone has criticised the weekly online leaks of the results show, describing them as “really, really nasty,” and has named the two pro dancers he believes are under the most pressure this series.
Speaking to Paddy Power Games after Week 4, which saw Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec eliminated, Vincent discussed Delta Goodrem’s chances, the dancers under pressure, and the recurring spoiler issue that has dogged the show for years.
Delta Goodrem Withdraws Due to Injury
Since that interview, it has been announced that Eurovision star Delta Goodrem has been forced to pull out of next week’s show due to a rib injury. A Strictly spokesperson said: “Due to injury, Delta Goodrem has been advised by doctors to rest and, as a result, will not dance on this weekend's Strictly Come Dancing.”
“In line with the rules of the show, Delta and Kai will receive a bye through to next week when it is hoped they will be able to dance again. We wish Delta the very best as she continues her recovery.”
Two Professionals Under Pressure
Despite Delta’s absence from icons’ week, Vincent still shared his views on the series. He said: “There are two professionals under pressure – Alexis [Warr] and Julian [Caillon] because their celebrities are very touch and go. They can either do really well or they don’t do well at all.”
“They have the most pressure, especially from the fact they have been quite low on the leaderboard from the beginning. So they have a hard job on their hands. I wouldn’t want to be in their place.”
“They literally just need to sit down and think it through. Thinking choreographically what the celebrities are really capable of doing and if they simplify the choreography, so what they do on the dance floor looks good.”
Spoiler Leaks ‘Break the Magic’
But one aspect of the show clearly annoys Vincent: the weekly leak of the results show, which is filmed on Saturday night after the live show but not broadcast until Sunday evening. Fans can search for the elimination results on Sunday morning, a spoiler that has drawn criticism for years.
Vincent said: “Yeah, that is such a shame. Honestly, it really upsets me because people know how much this show is loved, and you don't want to have any spoilers.”
“The same as any other TV shows. You can watch any show on TV, you can watch Coronation Street, or Strictly and you really don't need that [the spoilers].”
“I have to say, it's really, really nasty to do something like that on a family show like Strictly. I don't know who's behind it. I don't think it's the papers because if the papers were involved in something like this, they would have done it every year.”
“I don't know, and I hope they can find out who's behind this because I find it really, really unfair. It just breaks the magic of Strictly.”
