Reality television favourite Scarlett Moffatt has issued a firm rebuttal to viewers accusing the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special of being a 'fix', due to her previous dance experience.
Fans cry foul over dancer's past
The former Gogglebox and I'm a Celebrity... star, who is set to perform with professional partner Vito Coppola on the 2025 festive edition, faced backlash after it emerged she attended dance classes as a child. Critics suggested this gave her an unfair advantage over fellow contestants, who include singer Brian McFadden, comedian Babatunde Aléshé, and EastEnders actor Nicholas Bailey.
Moffatt, now 35, has vigorously denied the claims, insisting her brief foray into dance is a distant memory. "I feel they've really hyped me up," she told The Sun. "I enjoy dancing, but that was when I was a little girl... I did Old Time and Sequence, which is a bit like ballroom and Latin."
A childhood passion, not professional training
She elaborated on her early exposure to ballroom, recalling how the launch of Strictly coincided with her teenage years. The TV personality also shared a cherished anecdote about meeting Strictly professional Anton du Beke when she was just eight years old, after he signed a piece of paper for her at a show.
"That somehow was translated into that I was trained by Anton," Moffatt explained, amused by the exaggeration. "Somehow, that's been twisted, and I am professionally trained by Anton. It's so funny though, man. You've got to laugh, haven't you?"
Despite the controversy, Moffatt had already addressed her dance background on Instagram this week, posting old footage of herself in a competition. In a heartfelt caption, she expressed gratitude for the Christmas special opportunity, believing her past would preclude her from the main series.
Support from the Strictly family
Her post attracted supportive messages from within the Strictly community. Former champion Stacey Dooley encouraged her, writing: "Babe, you can ABSOLUTELY do the main series!" Pro dancer Karen Hauer also offered praise, calling Moffatt a "wonderful human" and an "absolute dream" candidate for the full competition.
The debate over contestants with prior experience is not new to Strictly. The 2025 main series saw similar scrutiny directed at West End performers Lewis Cope and Amber Davies, yet the series was ultimately won by football legend Karen Carney, a complete novice.
The 2025 Christmas special will mark one of the final presenting appearances for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who hosted their last live show recently. For Scarlett Moffatt, performing on the iconic Strictly floor on Christmas Day remains a "bucket-list moment" and a dream come true.
