Scarlett Moffatt has publicly addressed and dismissed claims of a 'fix' on the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special. The 35-year-old television personality is partnered with professional dancer Vito Coppola for the festive episode, scheduled to air on Christmas Day.
Dance Training Controversy Explained
Viewers pointed out that Moffatt had dance training in her childhood, leading to accusations that the competition was unfairly weighted in her favour. Responding to the backlash, Moffatt insisted her previous experience is firmly in the past and should not provide an advantage decades later.
She told The Sun: 'I enjoy dancing, but that was when I was a little girl; I'm 35 now.' The TV star explained that a claim she was trained by Strictly professional Anton du Beke stemmed from her once attending one of his shows, a story which has since been twisted.
'It's so funny though, man. You've got to laugh, haven't you?' she added regarding the controversy.
Winner Leak Sparks Fan Fury
The 'fix' claims are not the only controversy surrounding this year's special. Strictly fans were left fuming after the winner's identity was leaked online weeks before the broadcast. The result appeared on the notorious 'Strictly Spoiler' website and was later shared on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Reacting to the spoiler, some fans declared they would not watch. One wrote: 'Won't be watching Strictly again even at Christmas,' while another protested: 'Not going to waste my time watching.'
Other viewers criticised the choice of winner due to pre-existing dance experience, with one commenting: 'They really like pushing the trained dancer... can't they see this is killing the show.' Despite the leak, many said they would still tune in, with one fan noting: 'Still gonna be an amazing watch though.'
Behind the Leaks and the Festive Line-Up
The issue of results leaking ahead of Strictly broadcasts is a long-standing one, attributed to an unidentified mole within the BBC. Dave Thorp, who runs the Strictly Spoiler site, admitted the BBC has taken no action against him, suggesting the corporation accepts leaks are inevitable when shows are pre-recorded.
This year's Christmas Special, airing 25 December at 5:30pm, features a star-studded line-up including Westlife's Brian McFadden, All Saints singer Melanie Blatt, and Gladiator star Jodie Ounsley.
The full celebrity line-up for the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special is:
- Scarlett Moffatt, 35, Television presenter (Partner: Vito Coppola)
- Jodie Ounsley, 24, Gladiator (Partner: Neil Jones)
- Babatunde Aleshe, 39, Comedian (Partner: Nancy Xu)
- Melanie Blatt, 50, All Saints singer (Partner: Kai Widdrington)
- Nicholas Bailey, 54, EastEnders actor (Partner: Luba Mushtuk)
- Brian McFadden, 45, Westlife singer (Partner: Michelle Tsiakkas)
