James Jordan has criticised the Strictly Come Dancing judges as "predictable" and "scripted", claiming they are not marking contestants properly and suggesting he should return to run the show.
The 48-year-old TV star, who served as a professional on the BBC Saturday night favourite from 2006 to 2013 alongside then-wife Ola Jordan, has taken issue with the scoring of contestants such as Cach Mercer and Graeme Hall in recent weeks.
Judges 'too predictable and too panto'
Speaking about the panel, which consists of Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton DuBeke, James said: "I think the judges are very inconsistent in how they mark. Cach’s foxtrot is a perfect example, eights and nines when it was never that, and I think they’re marking Graeme very generously too."
He added: "They’re too predictable, too panto and too scripted. Get the judges judging properly, not worried about upsetting people and trying to be too kind."
Writing for whichbingo, he continued: "At the end of the day you need Craig being the tough one, and when he finishes on a positive every time now, I think it dilutes the feel of the whole panel."
Call for shorter judge comments
James also expressed frustration with the length of the judges' remarks, saying: "They all talk for too long as well. I want to watch the dancing and see how they’re getting on, I don’t want to listen to the judges for that long."
The former Dancing On Ice star, who danced with the likes of broadcaster Vanessa Feltz and reached the final with West End actress Denise Van Outen and comedienne and writer Pamela Stephenson during his time on the show, claimed members of the public often tell him he should be back on Strictly.
He said: "I reckon they’ll end up getting me on there to run the whole show. Fingers crossed."
Career and personal updates
After leaving Strictly, James won Dancing on Ice and appeared on Celebrity Coach Trip. He currently tours regularly with Brendan Cole, Pasha Kovalev, Vincent Simone and Ian Waite for Legends on the Dancefloor.
News of his split from Ola became public in August, and at the time he said he was struggling. "I’m going through a midlife crisis," he said. "The last few years, for me, have been really tough. I’m not afraid to admit it. I put my hands up and say I’m struggling with life at the minute."
Speaking to Craig Doyle and Angela Scanlon, he gave an update: "I'm OK. It's been a tough few years and obviously myself and Ola, I've moved out a few months ago and it has been really tough. I find it hard to talk about and I'm not going to speak about it too much because I don't think it's fair on her. The fact that she's not here as well to speak about it."
He added: "I'm now sitting in a one-bedroom apartment on my own at night, watching TV, going 'What is going on?' But I just need that time to find myself again."
