Strictly Come Dancing’s ex pro James Jordan has accused this year’s dances of ‘overmarking’ Ranvir Singh and Caroline Quentin.
This year’s contestants took to the dancefloor for the first live show on Saturday night, with both impressing the judges with their first routines.
GMB reporter Ranvir and actress Caroline both landed in a tied third place on the scoreboard for their performances, alongside Nicola Adams and Katya Jones, all earning 21 each.
But James – who was on the show from 2006 to 2013 – believes they didn’t earn their place, with Nicola and Katya being the better dancers.
James wrote in Hello!: ‘In my opinion, there were two people that were marked too high and that was Caroline Quentin and Ranvir Singh.
‘They both got the same marks as Nicola, but Nicola was better than them.’
James’ pro dancer wife Ola agreed, and added that Nicola was a surprise – even with potential to make it to the finals.
But Ranvir and Giovanni Pernice’s Paso Doble to Beyonce failed to impress, as did Caroline and Johannes Radebe’s American Smooth to Sheena Easton’s 9 to 5 (Morning Train).
Ola then criticised Caroline’s dancer past, which ‘could be seen by her arms and feet’.
‘She’s not going to be compared to people who have never danced before like Bill Bailey,’ James added.
‘I thought she was good, I agree her arms and feet were fantastic but there were some timing issues.’
Well… both Ranvir and Caroline now have the opportunity to prove them wrong, with their second routines currently being rehearsed for the next round.
This upcoming weekend will be the one that counts, with the first elimination taking place after their performances.
Caroline Quentin and Johannes Radebe will perform a Paso Doble to El Gato Montes by Ramon Cortez, and Ranvir and Giovanni will Quickstep to You Are The Sunshine Of My Life by Stevie Wonder.
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday at 7.25pm on BBC One.
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