Former Strictly Come Dancing pro dancer Brendan Cole has claimed that Angela Rippon won’t make it to the final of this year’s series.
The 47-year-old, who starred on the programme between 2004 to 2018, believes the former newsreader’s days on the ballroom stalwart are numbered, despite being a good dancer.
He said of the 79-year-old: “I think it would be great for the show if she did make the final, but I don’t think she’ll get there.
“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.
“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 told 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.”
Cole’s comments come after viewers accused the show of being a “fix” after Krishnan Guru-Murthy was voted off on Sunday night’s episode.
The broadcaster and his pro partner Lauren Oakley found themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard on Saturday night and ended up in the dance-off against Rippon and her partner Kai Widdrington.
After both couples took to the floor for a second time judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all opted to save Rippon despite messing up her routine.
Although Rippon won the majority vote, her second dance-off in a row, head judge Shirley Ballas admitted she would have saved Guru-Murthy.
However, viewers at home were less than happy and aired their frustration over the decision, accusing the show of “favouritism” towards Rippon.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one viewer commented: “Sorry, this is such a fix. how can you say, ‘Angela, you literally almost fell over. Krishnan, you were significantly better but I’m still gonna save Angela?’ ... Never agreed with Shirley before, WTF is going on?”
While another wrote: “At this point I feel like Angela could have stood there for the whole song and she would have still made it through. For once I agree with Shirley, Krishnan was better.”
One fan fumed: “Anyone else think it’s an absolute travesty that Angela [Rippon] has been saved by the judges when they even admitted Krishnan upped his game!
“Craig and Shirley even pointed out Angela made a mistake! BBC bias. Come on Strictly, play fair”.
A fourth added: “Strictly judges said Angela Rippon messed up. Was unsteady on her feet. Slipped. And all four said Krishnan did better. But Angela goes through.
“And all a fix to get the headlines about her back in Blackpool. Making a mockery of the show!”
“Twice in a dance-off and twice making mistakes yet she still goes through? I’m sorry, I love Angela, but if that was anyone else they’d have gone last time. They clearly want Angela at Blackpool no matter what. Krishnan was robbed,” another echoed.
