Strictly Come Dancing's Ashley Roberts has had a tough time on the BBC One reality ballroom show. Despite nabbing two perfect scores, the former Pussycat Doll has seemingly yet to win over the public.
Speaking to Phillip Schofield and Rochelle Humes on This Morning, former Strictly star Vanessa Feltz said: "It wasn't her fault she ended up on the show, they asked her, she didn't beg them.
"However, there’s been no journey, because she’s a brilliant dancer, she was brilliant in week one and brilliant now.
"The thing that I think hinders her is, although we kind of vaguely knew about The Pussycat Dolls in this country, we all remember Nicole Scherzinger.
"I don't think we've grown up with them, she doesn't have that well of fans and support.
"In the end, it’s partly a popularity contest, the judges are always talking about the technique and the details.
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"But the public have to warm, like Stacey for example, people who hadn't watched her being investigative and didn't really know what she did.
"There’s something about her chirpy cockney personality, she's so lively and she's cute. People fell for her, I don't know whether Ashley has quite the same support."
Former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips defended the argument about Ashley having previous dance experience due to her pop career, as it wouldn't make her "accurate" enough to give her an advantage.
She said: "It's very different, the thing about ballroom is it's like baking, you have to be accurate and unless you're trained – it's about accuracy and dances that have different genres are not trained in that finite detail.'
Elsewhere in the chat, Phillip Schofield scolded one viewer who criticised Ashley, as she was a former judge on Dancing on Ice and felt that she shouldn't be allowed to compete.
He said: "What difference does that make? You're really looking at everything there."
In a mocking voice he added: "Oh my god you were on television, so you can't compete now."
This Morning continues weekdays from 10.30am.
The Strictly Come Dancing finale airs on Saturday (December 15) at 6.30pm on BBC One as one couple win the Glitterball Trophy. The special will also feature music from crooner Michael Bublé.
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Laurence Mozafari (he/him) is a multi-award winning journalist, editor, and presenter. A former Editor-in-Chief of Digital Spy, Laurence previously held roles as the site's Editor, Deputy Editor, and Associate Editor focusing on news, social, and video. Laurence hosted the BBC Sounds podcast Obsessed with Peaky Blinders in 2019. He also hosts his own podcast production, Time of My Life, where he interviews fascinating elders about their life lessons, including Only Fools and Horses' Sir David Jason, Star Trek’s George Takei and Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh.
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He is also a visiting lecturer at various universities teaching journalism, including City, University of London, Nottingham Trent, Staffordshire University and London Metropolitan. Laurence has won numerous awards in his journalism career, including the BSME Talent Award’s Best Deputy Editor, the PPA's 30 Under 30, and the New Editor and Editor of the Year at the AOP and BSMEs. He led Digital Spy to win PPA's Digital Content Team of the Year twice, along with the British Media Awards’ Brand of the Year in 2021.
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Laurence has been lucky enough to interview numerous celebrities, actors, and musicians throughout his career. Arnold Schwarzenegger loved his hair, Jimmy Carr loved his coat and Antonio Banderas gave a shout-out to his mum. Laurence has covered set visits for The Witcher on Netflix and Marvel’s Inhumans, he got Daisy Ridley to do a Chewbacca impression and loves Marvel, PlayStation, Glastonbury and craft beer. Linkedin
