Legendary TV presenter blasts Strictly Come Dancing for ‘ruining the show’

Legendary TV big Jeff Stelling has deed retired astatine the producers of Strictly Come Dancing for ‘ruining’ the line-up aft Paul Merson’s exit connected Sunday night.

Former Arsenal and England footballer Paul, 56, made it to week 5 of the contention before being unanimously voted retired of the dance-off.

His samba regular with creation spouse Karen Hauer wasn’t capable to person Craig Revel-Horwood, MotsiMabuse, Shirley Balls, and Anton Du Beke, who saved erstwhile JLS vocalist JB Gill instead.

But aft the result, one of Paul’s erstwhile colleagues, Jeff, has slammed those who decided connected the Strictly line-up for including excessively galore radical with a creation background.

Jeff, 69, co-presented Sky Sports’ play day amusement Soccer Saturday alongside Paul betwixt 2006 and 2023.

And Jeff, who was precocious awarded an MBE, had immoderate prime words for the BBC aft seeing his person and erstwhile workfellow knocked retired of the contention past night.

In a tweet, helium said: ‘Proud of you, Merse. Shame they ruin the amusement by including radical who are trained dancers oregon person philharmonic theatre backgrounds.’

He carried on, continuing to criticise the prime of celebrities successful the line-up: ‘Should beryllium radical who don’t person immoderate creation training, successful my opinion. But you were brilliant!’

Jeff’s connection was sent successful effect to a tweet Paul had already sent, thanking radical for their enactment passim the bid and saying moving with Karen had been a ‘pleasure’.

In this year’s competition, erstwhile boyband subordinate JB and ex-Love Island prima Tasha Ghouri person some experienced erstwhile creation and choreography training.

JB was a subordinate of JLS betwixt 2008 and 2013, starring successful the group’s euphony videos and doing unrecorded performances which featured creation routines and analyzable choreography.

Meanwhile, Tasha trained arsenic a dancer astatine the Creative Academy arsenic a teen and has entered immoderate creation competitions. However, some person precise constricted ballroom experience.

In the 2023 competition, finalist Layton Williams had performed connected the West End from the property of 14, grooming successful jazz, tap, and ballet, portion erstwhile Pussycat Dolls subordinate Ashley Roberts had besides had erstwhile acquisition earlier entering successful 2018.

As for Paul, his exit successful week 5 means helium won’t lucifer the advancement made by his erstwhile Arsenal teammate Tony Adams, who made it each the mode to week 8 successful 2022.

However, aft picking up an wounded during the unrecorded amusement connected that Saturday, helium declined to vie successful the dance-off and withdrew from the competition.

‘You person grown week aft week,’ said caput justice Shirley astir Tony’s performance. ‘I, connected behalf of the judges, person enjoyed each 2nd of watching you, and I tin lone privation you the precise best, delight transportation connected dancing.’

Paul’s exit means he’ll miss retired connected Halloween Week during adjacent Saturday’s unrecorded show, with JB progressing successful the contention with spouse Amy Dowden.

Metro.co.uk has reached retired to the BBC for comment.

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday astatine 6.25pm connected BBC One

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