Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has admitted the show isn't all about the dancing.
Craig has been on the programme since its inception two decades ago, and he admits the programme is not just about the performance and the routines the celebrities do, but also a popularity contest. During an appearance on Strictly: It Takes Two, he chatted with host Janette Manrara about Fleur East finding herself in the dance-off for a second week.
Fleur and her professional partner Vito Coppola took on EastEnders star James Bye and Amy Dowden in the dance off, with James ending up being sent home by the judges following his bee-themed Charleston.
Speaking on the show's spin-off programme, It Takes Two, Craig said: "You have to remember that it is a popularity contest as much as it is about dancing. So you do have to canvas for votes. How you do that is up to you.
"You do have to win the hearts and minds of the nation as well. She's a lovely dancer, and let's not forget, other people like Alesha Dixon was in the bottom two for three weeks and went on to win it. And Alesha went on to judge it."
His comments come after former Strictly contestant Dan Walker told The Mirror the show wasn't just about the dancing.
"Well, it's not a dance competition is it? It's half a popularity contest, it's an entertainment show and it doesn't matter how good you are on the dance floor, you've got to connect with the audience," Dan told us. "Look at how Tony [Adams] and Katya [Jones] have done - he's just been fantastic and I think he's got a few more weeks in him. It's just entertainment.
"At a time when we just need to sit down and watch telly and have a bit of fun, Tony provides that. Once people saw him as England captain, this brilliant footballer, trouble with alcohol at the end of his career and he's come through the other side and he's very thankful for that and what he can do with that."
Fleur found herself in the dance off again last weekend, and she admitted she was convinced she was going to be kicked out.
"Another Halloween scare for me! I was like surely not, surely the Strictly gods are smiling down on me - it’s my birthday! I honestly thought ‘this is it, I’m gone’ because I was in the dance off again, so I was prepared but I was so very, very thankful to the judges for saving us. I’m having such a good time, I love dancing with Vito and I feel like we’ve got so much more to show, so I’m really happy we’re here for another week," she shared on her radio show earlier this week."
