Strictly Come Dancing legend claims Angela Rippon's days on show are 'numbered'

15 November 2023 , 07:52

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Strictly Come Dancing legend claims Angela Rippon's days on show are 'numbered'

Angela Rippon might not win the famous Strictly Come Dancing Glitterball Trophy, according to a former professional dancer.

Brendan Cole, 47, appeared on the programme between 2004 and 2018 when it was announced his contract had not been renewed. Since appearing on the BBC dancing competition, the New Zealand-born ballroom dancer has maintained a career in the media and has danced since the age of six.

But his years of experience have seen him watch the movements of dancers at a more advanced level. Thanks to this, Cole said he believes Angela Rippon, 79, is a good dancer but won't make it to the final of the series.

"I think it would be great for the show if she did make the final, but I don't think she'll get there," he said. Brendan continued: "The Paso [Doble] she performed was a bit stiff. Previously I thought she could make it all the way, but it's unlikely with the calibre of talent still in the competition.

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Brendan Cole has shared his views on the series (WireImage)

He believes Angela could be at risk in the coming weeks (PA)

"Layton [Williams], Ellie [Leech], Nigel [Harman] and Angela [Scanlon] are all serious contenders because they are all very good and they are also bringing the judges and viewers something new each week." He added to Sky Bingo: "It'll be hard for any of them to be kicked out unless Angela's voting audience really gets behind her. After the last two weeks, it's quite apparent that her audience vote is possibly dwindling."

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The professional dancer also admitted he would have scored people differently during the latest episode of the competition. Brendan explained: "Scoring is really subjective. I wouldn't have been pumping out 10s for Layton's Argentine Tango even though it was a really good number.

"I think Angela [Rippon], Annabel [Croft] and Krishnan [Guru-Murphey] were all overmarked. Ellie [Leech] and Vito [Coppola] and Angela [Scanlon] and Carlos [Gu] probably scored about right for their Rumba and Waltz respectively." In recent weeks, the show has been branded a "fix" after Angela made it through while Krishnan and Adam Thomas had been sent home.

The show was hit by fix claims by angry fans who fumed that Angela made it through because of her connections with Blackpool, with the presenter having hosted the original Come Dancing from the Tower Ballroom decades ago. Over the weekend, one fan wrote: "So Craig gives Angela R and Ellie the same score #Strictly !!! Fix," whilst another added: "Actually cba to watch strictly now. The favouritism and blatant fix to get Angela to Blackpool is a f***ing joke. She was stomping and hunched over like a Disney villain, made a mistake but the judges were praising her like she smashed it. @bbcstrictly sort it out #strictly."

Daniel Bird