But it was JLS’s Aston Merrygold in 2017 and former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts in 2018 who experienced the biggest backlash. Merrygold made a shock exit just halfway through his series, despite topping the leaderboard twice and initially looking like a hot favourite. Perhaps that was his downfall, though: when he had an off week, viewers weren’t remotely interested in giving him their sympathy votes. Roberts produced some of the best numbers we’ve seen on Strictly, but her distinctly American swagger meant she could never be the people’s champion.
Roberts would likely have fared better over on the US version, Dancing with the Stars. Her fellow Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger won the competition in 2010, as have other accomplished celebrities such as Dirty Dancing’s Jennifer Grey and TikTok dance star Charli D’Amelio.
On this side of the pond, we Britons aren’t interested in rewarding such professionally polished, gung-ho contestants. We want to see the patented Strictly “journey”: relatable, self-deprecating amateurs cautiously improving week by week in heart-warming fashion. If everyone is brilliant to start with, it’s boring telly.
But then so is a version of Strictly where every contestant dances like Ed Balls, and anyone with stage school training or performance experience is automatically banned. So, instead of fretting, let’s trust the show to run its course. The likes of Cope and Davies might seem unbeatable now, but history has taught us that, come December, it’s highly unlikely they’ll actually waltz off with the glitterball trophy.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One on Saturday 4 October at 6.20pm
