Strictly star slams judges' 'unfair' high scores for Ellie as not deserved

02 November 2023 , 11:32

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Strictly star slams judges' 'unfair' high scores for Ellie as not deserved

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Brendan Cole has hit out at the judge's decision to score contestants high marks as he feels it's far too early and underserved.

In last week's live show, Adam Thomas was scored a nine by one of the judges, while former Coronation Street star Ellie Leach, was given a string of 10 points for her dance routine – leaving many to think that her performance was faultless. However, professional dancer Brendan, 47, who first appeared on the show in 2004, has slammed the motives of the judges as he feels they are giving contestants a false sense of security.

Former Strictly star Brendan Cole has slammed judges for underserved scores (PA)

During a recent interview the father-of-two, who was sensationally axed from the show in 2018, said: "We haven't yet seen many American Smooths this season. He (Adam) scored, seven, eight, nine and eight from the judges. A nine was too high for that dance." Speaking to Sky Bingo, he continued: "It was a good number and he danced it very well. There were a few marks that were in my opinion slightly off. Three 10’s for Ellie’s number closing the show, it was a great number but it wasn’t a 10! 10’s at this stage, just too early, no-one is perfect, and it can always be a little better. "

He added: "Leyton (Williams) and Nikita (Kuzmin) did a fantastic number, but it wasn’t 10’s because it wasn’t perfect. But you can’t compare what Leyton did with what Ellie (Leach) did, I think Leyton was better even though technically it wasn’t perfect but then neither was Ellie's." But Brendan was keen to praise the stamina of all the contestants, especially Angela Rippon, who at the age of 79, has wowed the judges and fans alike.

He went on to say: "I’m amazed Angela (Rippon) has been so up for doing all of these things. Until you've done Strictly you don't realise how intense it is. It's not just intense physically, it's intense emotionally and there are so many things you've got to fit in." Speaking of his own experience on the BBC show, he added: "Halfway through the competition, you are absolutely spent, you’re exhausted, and you’ve got to somehow get through the next six or seven weeks. She’s in safe hands with Kai (Widdrington), he’s doing a brilliant job with her as are production. She’s not holding back and this is what it’s going to take to get to the final."

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Ex Strictly star Brendan Cole says its too early for judges to hand out high scores (ITV)

But his recent comment about Angela is in stark difference to his previous interview with the bookmaker. He previously revealed that Angela could make it to the final weeks of the competition, but the chances of holding up the Glitterball were slim. He told Sky Bingo last month: "I think (Angela Rippon) can go all the way to the final but I don't think she can go all the way and win it. The thing with Angela is, I think they were very clever – the music choice – You make me feel so young, (Kai Widdrington) looked really dapper. He looks after her, he's a lovely boy. She knows how television works to say all the right things."

He added: "She did a really nice Foxtrot, (it) was a pretty dance. She wasn't hitting a particularly wonderful ballroom position but she's 78 years old. What are we expecting? I think time will play against her in the show because it is very demanding and trying to make two numbers look good is very different to trying to make one number good. Half the time on a number can make a number go from being really nice, to really awful. I've no doubt that she'll probably get to week eight or nine and that'd be great, but then once you step into two numbers, and you've got show dances and whatever, that becomes a tricky thing."

Lucretia Munro