Erin Boag, Anton Du Beke's long-time dance partner, has claimed that Strictly Come Dancing stars are given guidance on what they can and can't say. Anton, who previously appeared on the show as a professional dancer, now sits on the judging panel alongside Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.
Erin's Experience on the Show
Erin, who first partnered with Anton in 1997, joined Strictly when it launched in 2004 and stayed for eight years, while Anton remained on the programme. The pair have stayed close and still dance together.
Speaking on the At Home with Vanessa podcast, Erin was asked about recent changes to the show, including new presenters Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe. She said Anton and the wider team would have to accept developments even if they weren't to their taste.
Claims of Restrictions
After host Vanessa Feltz asked if she believed Anton had found the changes "difficult", Erin suggested he would enjoy seeing more of the style from the early years with Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly. However, she claimed those involved are expected to follow the direction set by producers.
She said: "I'm sure that the judges, everybody, yes, are almost told what to say, [they're] definitely told what they can't say and they have to run with the trend, because if they don't, they get warned."
When asked if she meant that as fact, Erin replied: "Yes, it is a fact," and said she had experienced what she was claiming. She added: "We've been there, we've been told, 'You've got to say this, you can't say that', well hold on a minute because that's happening, but 'you can't say that'."
Further Details and Context
The dancer initially couldn't recall a specific example, but maintained there were "a lot of things" restricted because the show has a particular direction. She later suggested professional dancers often have little input into song choices, citing a time her request was turned down even when she stressed that it might not work with the dancer.
Reach PLC has contacted representatives for Anton and Strictly for comment. As well as three new presenters, the series has also introduced five new professional dancers, two of which are performing with celebrity partners this year.
Last week, Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden became the first pairing to leave the competition after a dance-off against Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu. This result prompted the show's former professional dancer Brendan Cole to issue a warning to Amy about her friendship with Chris. The remaining 14 couples will return this week hoping to avoid elimination as the race for the Glitterball trophy continues. Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One.
