The upcoming “Strictly Come Dancing” Christmas special is stirring up quite the buzz, but not all of it is celebratory. Former “Gogglebox” star Scarlett Moffatt’s participation has raised eyebrows, with some insiders questioning the fairness of her inclusion due to her extensive dance background.
Moffatt, a familiar face to many after her stint inviting viewers into her living room on “Gogglebox,” is now poised to trade her sofa for the ballroom. However, this transition has unveiled a history of dance training, including instruction from none other than Anton Du Beke, a judge on the show.
This revelation has made Moffatt an early favourite to win the festive glitterball trophy. This has led to whispers among those connected with the BBC series, who suggest her casting is “extremely unfair.”
A History of Dance
One “Strictly” insider shared, “Scarlett is a trained dancer. She is so good at it, and spent much of her childhood actually doing ballroom and Latin dancing.”
- The insider further elaborated on Moffatt’s connection to the show, stating, “Anton even helped her, and now he will be judging her against others – it all feels very unfair. She will surely be the runaway winner, and then the BBC will be desperate to sign her for the 2026 series.”
- The insider concluded with a question, “How would you feel if you were one of the others?”
Before her fame on “Gogglebox,” Moffatt was a dedicated dancer, achieving success in numerous competitions across the United Kingdom. She herself has previously acknowledged that her background might give her an “unfair advantage” if she were ever to compete on “Strictly.”
In her 2017 autobiography, “My Life Story: Sofa, So Good!,” she wrote, “I’d love to go on ‘Strictly,’ but I just don’t think they’d let me on. I’m basically a ringer, as I’ve danced against some of the professionals in competitions when I was younger.”
Excitement Amidst Controversy
Despite the controversy, friends of Moffatt, who hails from County Durham, say she is thrilled to be a part of the Christmas special. She previously won ITV’s reality show “I’m A Celeb” in 2016.
She will be partnered with professional dancer Vito Coppola and will share the stage with other celebrities, including former All Saints singer Melanie Blatt and ex-Westlife star Brian McFadden.
Speculation is rife that her appearance on the Christmas Day special could serve as a “test run” for her potential inclusion in the full series next year.
A Sought-After Star
Following her victory on “I’m A Celeb,” Moffatt became a prominent figure in the television industry, appearing on shows like “Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway” and the “I’m A Celeb” spin-off show.
She also featured in the Channel 4 documentary series “The British Tribe Next Door,” where she and her family lived in a specially constructed house next to the Himba people in Namibia. This series faced criticism and accusations of racism, exploitation, and perpetuating colonialist stereotypes.
Questions Remain
As the “Strictly Come Dancing” Christmas special approaches, the debate surrounding Scarlett Moffatt’s participation continues. Will her prior dance experience lead her to victory? Or will the other contestants rise to the challenge? Only time will tell whether her ballroom past will pave her way to the glitterball trophy or create an uneven playing field.
