Former Strictly Come Dancing professional James Jordan has called for the show's judges to be replaced, arguing the panel has become "too predictable, too panto, too scripted."
Jordan, who spent eight seasons on the BBC show from 2008 to 2013, shared his views exclusively with Express.co.uk amid the current changes to the dance line-up.
Speaking about the pro dancer shake-up this season, he said: "You get to a point as a pro where you have to step down and let someone else come in, bring fresh content, and that's what has happened with the pros. But I also feel the same with the judges. I'd like to see some of them changed as well."
Criticism of the judging panel
Jordan singled out Craig Revel Horwood, who is traditionally cast as the show's strict critic. "For example Craig is supposed to be the bad guy. That is what people want. But he is now being nice at the end of his analysis and it is ridiculous," he said.
He also accused the judges of inconsistent marking, pointing to the most recent show on Saturday, October 17, when Cach Mercer and partner Maddie Ingoldsby received a score of 34 for their Foxtrot.
"I do feel that the judges are very inconsistent of how they're marking people. Like for example, if we look at Cach and Maddie for their Foxtrot, they gave saying how amazing it was. I'm currently on a bus with four other pros on tour, and we were all going: 'How have they given such high scores?'"
Praise for the new dancers
Jordan, however, is enthusiastic about the five new additions to the dance team following a mass cull of established pros. Karen Hauer, Gorka Márquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas did not return for the 2026 season, replaced by Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Karmalita.
Speaking on behalf of WhichBingo, he said of the newcomers: "Maddie, in particular, and Mark. I think they are sensational. I think it looks like they've been there for years, and I think they're doing a wonderful, wonderful job. So I've got no problem with them."
Despite this, he took issue with the judges' scoring of Maddie and her celebrity partner Cach. "Because it was a good performance, but it was never eights and nines. At most, it was a seven because his footwork wasn't good. The way his legs were tracking and things like that, and they said how good his footwork was. Well, it wasn't. That's a fact," he insisted.
Mixed performances welcomed
Jordan also said he is pleased to see such mixed performances this year, with many celebrities delivering brilliant routines one week and struggling the next. "I like the fact that people are coming out and struggling. I don't want to see brilliant dancing every single week. I like to see sometimes the ones that aren't so good come out and do a brilliant performance," he shared.
He cited former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips as an example: "He's had a couple of really dodgy weeks, and then he came out and did the couple's choice and did a really really good job. And I like to see that. For me that is what Strictly is about."
