Molly Rainford has been defended by her Strictly Come Dancing partner Carlos Gu after claims emerged that she has an advantage over other contestants.
The 21-year-old has been impressing judges with her moves in recent weeks and is fast-becoming one of the favourites to take home the Glitterball trophy this year. However, although she has had no experience in ballroom or Latin dancing, many have questioned whether her past would give her an advantage.
She previously attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School and later East London Arts & Music before landing her big break as Nova Jones on CBBC. Molly plays an intergalactic pop superstar who travels across the universe and previously said she "loved performing", the Express reports.
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Her dance partner has now defended her and other celebrities on the show accused of being at an advantage. Taking to his Instagram Story, Carlos wrote: "Everybody says @MollyRainford can dance, but honestly with all Ballroom and Latin dance is not [a] type of dance you can do if you learned how to move. (sic)
"It's totally another world, it's the principal, the discipline, the characteristics is hard for her and for all the celebs in our team, therefore to see them actually dance on @bbcstrictly every Saturday night is terrific.
"They trained at least 7/8 hours a day, they put their backs into it, so please show them respect. Because they're doing sth remarkable and tried their best to cheer whole nations."(sic)
Professional dancer and Dancing With The Stars expert, Gary Edwards has said Molly could be at an advantage due to her positivity.
On the CBBC star taking home the Glitterball trophy, he told Express.co.uk: "She has been consistently very good and that next notch up, it could very easily happen for her. I think they are pretty well-placed by now, they are hovering but hovering at a very good level.
"You have got to give it everything all the time, from the moment they walk on to when they are talking to the judges, to when they walk off." He went on to say Molly was "like sunshine" who gave it "150 per cent" and could still win if she went wrong.
Ex-pro dancer Nicky Campbell has argued that Molly is likely to do well due to being Sylvia Young trained. On Twitter, she wrote: "I can categorically tell you that her previous training still gives her a massive advantage. Professional dance training in any genre gives you skills that can be applied to any style of dance."
Molly isn't the only hopeful to be accused of being at an advantage this series. Helen Skelton's previous dance experience has also been brought up by many.
The presenter won a Ken Dodd dance competition for tap dancing aged 17 and also danced as part of a Christmas special in 2012. Despite this, Helen laughed off claims this would put her at an advantage.
Kym Marsh also shut down that she could be better off than those who haven't danced before following her popstar career in Hear'Say. Writing in her New! Magazine column, she said: "We’re talking 20 years ago, faffing about on stage in Hear’Say.
"It’s a whole different thing, and even if that did count as experience in dance, this is ballroom. I’ve got all the posture and grace of a Quaver."
Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 7pm on BBC One.
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