Former Strictly Star Defends Performers Amid 'Unfair Advantage' Row
Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Kimberley Walsh has spoken out in defence of celebrities joining the BBC show with performing arts backgrounds, dismissing claims they have an unfair edge. The Girls Aloud star, who competed in the 2012 series and a 2017 Christmas special, shared her own experience of facing criticism and tougher judging due to her pop career.
'The Judges Were Harder On Us'
Kimberley revealed that she received significant scrutiny when she signed up for the show because of her history with the chart-topping girl band. "I did get a little bit [of stick] and I think a lot of people who have done shows, or have been on the West End, or have come from my background, they do," she stated. She believes the judges are consistently harsher on performers, recalling her own time on the programme: "They're just way harder on us. I think the judges were quite hard on me as well."
Accustomed to high-energy pop routines, the 43-year-old admitted she could somewhat "fake" the Latin dances but found the technical discipline of Ballroom far more challenging. "They'd be really hard on me and I'd be like, 'No I really am trying my best'," she concluded.
Why Past Experience Can Be a Hindrance
Kimberley offered a fresh perspective, suggesting that having prior dance training can sometimes make the Strictly Come Dancing process more difficult. She explained that performers often have to "unteach" their bodies existing muscle memory, which can be a significant hurdle. "It's really weird it's like unteaching your body, it's quite hard but it's true they [past contestants who have said it's harder] are not just saying it," she insisted.
While she understands why viewers might perceive an advantage in the performance aspect, she urged people to consider the sheer difficulty of the routines. "I don't know if it's unfair, but I can see why people think there is an advantage because if you've performed for a living, it's obviously going to be easier to perform," she conceded. "So, that side of it I get, but I think sometimes you don't realise how difficult some of the routines are."
She ended with a defiant message: "And also it's Strictly, let them just have a dance and enjoy themselves, do we have to pull people down? No."
Current Stars Facing the Same Scrutiny
This series, the debate has centred on contestants like Love Island star Amber Davies and Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, both of whom have West End experience. Lewis, who Kimberley is backing to win, previously starred in Billy Elliot and appeared on Britain's Got Talent. He has since proven his talent by securing the series' first perfect score of 40.
Amber Davies has also defended her background, asserting that musical theatre is "world's apart" from Ballroom and Latin. She described how even simple steps in her American Smooth routine brought her to tears, emphasising the complexity of the dances.
In other news, Kimberley Walsh is currently supporting the McDonald’s BBC Children in Need campaign. From 5th to 18th November, the iconic red Happy Meal box is being temporarily replaced with a blank, doodle-friendly design to help children express their emotions.
Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 6.25pm on BBC One.
