Former Strictly Come Dancing professional James Jordan has called for a major overhaul of the show's rules, branding the current system as "not fair" after contestant La Voix was forced to miss a pivotal week due to injury.
The Blackpool Week Controversy
The debate was sparked when the BBC announced that drag performer La Voix would be unable to compete in the iconic Blackpool Week specials. A Strictly spokesperson confirmed the news, stating that due to a devastating injury, La Voix had been medically advised to rest.
In a heartbreaking statement, La Voix expressed immense sadness at missing the chance to dance in the legendary ballroom. The performer and professional partner Aljaž Škorjanec will, however, receive a bye through to the following week, in line with the programme's existing regulations.
A Call for Clarity from a Former Pro
James Jordan, who starred on the BBC One show between 2006 and 2013, has now demanded more transparency. In an exclusive interview with Reach PLC on behalf of Freebets, where he works as an entertainment betting expert, Jordan highlighted the ambiguity surrounding the competition's injury protocol.
"The rules always come in, but no one really knows. It's such a grey area," he stated. Jordan questioned the point at which a contestant can no longer receive a bye, pointing out a potential scenario where a dancer could skip the semi-final due to injury and still progress to the final.
He emphasised that even during his time as a professional on the show, the dancers were never formally told what the rules were. He recalled instances where other contestants had been injured and were told they could not return the following week, creating an inconsistent precedent.
Proposing a Fairer Solution
Jordan acknowledged the production pressures of a live television show, noting that if everyone pulled out, there would be no programme. However, he argued that the current solution is fundamentally unfair.
"What I find bizarre is that they let that person go through, still have an elimination, and that person that's gone out that week might not necessarily have gone out, so it's not really fair," he explained.
While expressing his support for La Voix and Aljaž, Jordan proposed two clearer alternatives for future series. His personal feeling is that if a contestant cannot dance one week, they should be eliminated from the competition, with no elimination taking place that week to keep the numbers on track.
Alternatively, he suggested the show must define a specific point in the competition beyond which a bye is no longer permitted. His central plea is for the BBC to simply "Tell us what the rules are."
The controversy emerges in a series that has already seen three other stars depart. Kristian Nairn and Dani Dyer dropped out at the start and were replaced, while Stefan Dennis later withdrew on medical grounds. Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6.35pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
