Strictly judge hits back
Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has defended his strict scoring, insisting that he is "not always the villain." This comes after some viewers accused the show of giving easier dances to Angela Rippon, in an attempt to ensure her progression to the Blackpool round.
Craig's response
In his column for Best magazine, Craig addressed the criticism, stating, "So, viewers were surprised when I gave Angela a 9 for her Charleston, the highest score from the judges. I can give high marks on occasion, too, you know – I'm not always the villain of the piece, darlings! Technically, Angela made a hard dance look easy. It's not! She's unstoppable."
Impact on other contestants
Frustrated fans believe that the judges' leniency towards Angela's scoring is affecting the placement of other contestants on the leaderboard. This week, actor Adam Thomas was bumped down to second from bottom after receiving 27 points for his rumba, compared to Angela's 28 for her waltz.
Angela's background
Angela Rippon, a journalist and presenter, previously hosted Come Dancing, the predecessor to Strictly. The show was filmed in Blackpool and aired on the BBC, but did not feature celebrities or professional dancers. Some viewers suspect that Angela's history with the show influenced producers' desire for her to progress in the competition.
