Strictly's Luba Mushtuk slammed by former show pro dancer over 'dull' routine

29 September 2023 , 09:47

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Strictly's Luba Mushtuk slammed by former show pro dancer over 'dull' routine

Strictly Come Dancing's Luba Mushtuk has been slammed by former professional dancer Brendan Cole over her choreography for Adam Thomas' first dance.

The former Strictly star, 47, who was forced to leave the BBC show after his contract had not been renewed in 2018, has labelled the Waterloo Road star's first dance as "average" and "dull".

Throughout the 15 series that he took part in, Brendan had been partnered with Lisa Snowdon, Sophie Ellis-Bexter and was crowned winner in the show's first series with his partner Natasha Kaplinsky. Speaking to Sky Bingo earlier this week he said: "I think (Adam Thomas') partner needs to do better. "

Former Strictly star Brendan Cole slams Luba Mushtuk over Adam Thomas' 'average' dance routine

He added: "I didn't like the choreography choice. I didn't like the set to start the show. I mean, that could be production intervening and going, 'We want this', but for me it lacked, it seemed like an average routine." He continued: "It was opening the show so that was kind of odd. I was pleased to watch him because he's really nice to watch, but at the end, it was kind of dull, but I don't think it's his fault."

Adam, 35, was faced with the daunting task of opening the show but failed to impress the judges who only scored him 19 points on the leaderboard. Keen to reiterate that he was simply providing professional criticism, Brendan stated that it was not Adam's fault that his dance routine fell short.

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He said: "She should be really good, but I just didn't think that was a strong enough start for the show. So many things come into it – quite often you don't get the music choice you want because production wants you to do a certain thing."

Adam Thomas' dance routine was labelled dull, average and odd by former Strictly star Brendan Cole

During Brendan's time on the BBC show he was no stranger to controversy as he became embroiled in affair rumours with his partner Natasha Kaplinsky, during the first series. And it was this rumour that kick started the Strictly-curse phenomenon. At the time, Brendan was engaged to fellow pro dancer Camilla Dellerup but the pair split amid speculation of an affair. The rumours were strongly denied by Brendan and Natasha.

On screen, it looks as though the professional dancers and their celebrity partners get along incredibly well. But in an interview with the Mirror, Brendan revealed that there was more than one celebrity that he couldn't even be in the same studio together. He admitted: "I've had that twice really strongly, where we couldn't even be in the same studio together. I really enjoyed working with half of them [the celebs on Strictly] and I really hated working with the other half. 60/40 and I'm not sure which way that goes either. You are in such trouble if you don't gel with your partner."

Brendan was axed from the show in 2018 but he claimed that show producers only wanted to show one side of him. He told MailOnline: "Strictly only wanted to show one side to me. And they really pushed that side of me. There was very much a narrative that the show went with for 15 series. And it was tiring because it was actually not me."

He went on to say: "As you can see I like a bit of fun. I muck around a lot and that wasn't shown very often and I think it has been shown more on this show. And I am very pleased for the way it has been for all of, we have been shown in really lovely lights which we are. And it has been a really great experience."

Lucretia Munro