Strictly Come Dancing returned for its 2025 series last month, and former finalist Debbie McGee has revealed why the judges appear tougher on certain celebrities. Speaking exclusively on behalf of WhichBingo, McGee explained that the judges adjust their expectations based on a contestant's dance ability.
McGee, who finished as a finalist in 2017 and won the Christmas special in 2019, said: "When someone shows they've got a bit more ability in the very early weeks, the judges can be a bit tougher. But that's because the way it works with the judges, because they're judging on technique, if you start Strictly and you've never danced before and you're not very musical, they don't give you so much of the technique in the dance."
She added: "If you've got more ability, they give you more. So that's what evens up this, if you've had any training, dance training before or not, they're underlying it. It evens it up a little."
This comes as some viewers have claimed it is "unfair" to have trained dancers in the line-up, with Amber Davies and Lewis Cope topping the leaderboard. Amber is a West End star, while Lewis starred in Billy Elliot and reportedly represented the UK in the World Hip Hop Dance Championships. Presenter Lorraine Kelly also criticised the level of dance experience after her co-star Ross King was eliminated on Sunday.
McGee elaborated: "It does even it up because the technique is so difficult and that is what the judges judge on. So it would be like, something like in a Waltz, if someone's got more ability, they would expect their feet to be placed and the way they move through their feet. Where if someone who's never had any training before doesn't do that of course they're going to mark them down, but it's not going to be so important."
Strictly Come Dancing continues this Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with 13 couples remaining after Ross King's departure.
