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Strictly Come Dancing 2016: James Jordan accuses show of pairing best dancers with best celebrities

'Did anyone notice some pro's always get celebs that have had loads of dance training'

Jack Shepherd
Monday 05 September 2016 09:23 BST
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Will Young on Strictly Come Dancing 2016
Will Young on Strictly Come Dancing 2016

An ex-Strictly Come Dancing regular and Celebrity Big Brother contestant has enflamed a 'fix row' after claiming on Twitter that celebrities with past dancing experience are often paired with the best professional dancers on the BBC One show.

During the 2016 series’ launch show, James Jordan asked his followers: “Did anyone notice some pro's always get celebs that have had loads of dance training.”

Will Young’s pairing with Karen Clifton and Louise Redknapp’s with Kevin Clifton were highlighted by the dancer, the bookies having previously announced the two couples as their favourites.

Young previously studied both ballet and contemporary dance, and is experienced on treading the boards, while Redknapp was once a judge on So You Think You Can Dance.

“The producers have been trying for years to get one of them to win,” Jordan wrote, referring to the Cliftons.

A BBC spokesman responded to the claims calling them “complete and utter rubbish.” The continued: “Pairing of celebrities with the professional dancers is based on many factors and designed to give the celebrities the best possible experience on the show. It’s the public who decides the winner, not the producers.”

Meanwhile, the Daily Star published a report calling Jordan “bitter and twisted” after leaving the BBC One show following the 2013 series.

Jordan’s wide, Ola Jordan, who was also once a dancer on the show, claimed earlier this year that the judges scores are ‘fixed’, saying people over-mark and under-mark.

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