Strictly star shuts down ‘fix’ claims ahead of Christmas special

Scarlett Moffatt has defended her past dancing experience ahead of appearing on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.

Last month the star-studded line up of this year’s festive episode was confirmed – with the Gogglebox star also competing against Westlife’s Brian McFadden, comedian Babatunde Aléshé, EastEnders actor Nicholas Bailey, Gladiator Jodie Ounsley and All Saints singer Melanie Blatt.

First appearing as a couch critic on the Channel 4 show in 2014, Scarlett, 35, has since gone on to win I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and present on Saturday Night Takeaway.

When her casting on Strictly was revealed, Scarlett explained that the series had ‘always held a special place in my heart’.

‘Being part of the Christmas special feels truly magical. It’s the show that brings everyone together around the TV and being part of that is a genuine personal and career highlight,’ she said.

‘I’m sure it’ll also introduce me to a few muscles I didn’t know I had. I can’t wait to live my best life on that dancefloor.’

However, some critics quickly questioned Scarlett’s previous dance experience – as she’d competed in contests as a child and had also met Strictly judge Anton Du Beke.

But ahead of tomorrow’s episode, Scarlett has maintained that she doesn’t have an unfair advantage.

‘I feel they’ve really hyped me up,’ she told The Sun when asked about those who questioned her participation.

‘I enjoy dancing, but that was when I was a little girl, I’m 35 now.

‘I did dance, but it was so long ago.’

Scarlett then went on to explain that she undertook lessons for Old Time and Sequence, which is like ballroom and Latin.

When Strictly started when she was 13, Scarlett recalls thinking it was the ‘coolest thing ever’ and she started to follow the judges and dancers online.

‘Anton and Erin were doing a show and at the end of the show, they would teach people how to do a bit of a foxtrot or a bit of a waltz. I went to that when I was eight and Anton signed a piece of paper which I’ve still got,’ she then shared.

‘That somehow was translated into that I was trained by Anton. Somehow that’s been twisted and I am professionally trained by Anton. It’s so funny though, man. You’ve got to laugh, haven’t you? I just hope people aren’t expecting too much, you know what I mean?

‘But what I will say is I’m going to give it 110%. I’m just so excited to get on the dance floor and dance.’

Last year Scarlett returned to competitive ballroom dancing for the first time in 15 years. Competing at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, she and dance partner Craig Andrew won two second places and two third placings.

At the time the TV star said she’d ‘never been so nervous but so proud of myself’ after taking her childhood hobby back up.

However earlier this week Scarlett admitted her dance experience would block her from ever appearing on the main Strictly series.

‘I know I’ll probably never get to dance on the main Strictly series because of my past dance experience when I was a little girl so getting to be part of the Christmas special means everything to me,’ she posted on Instagram alongside clips of her dancing as a child as well as training for Strictly.

‘School wasn’t always easy for me, but dance was my safe place. It’s where I found my people, where I felt happiest, and where I could just be me.

‘Dancing on the Strictly Christmas Special, on Christmas Day, feels like a true bucket-list moment — one of those wishes you make quietly and never really expect to come true.’

She added: ‘I am so grateful to share this moment with my family, my friends, Vito and everyone watching at home & this will forever be one of the greatest days of my entire life ✨🎄

On the Strictly special she’ll be dancing with Vito Coppola.

Ahead of the episode airing, Scarlett said it was ‘liberating’ getting back on the dancefloor. ‘Obviously back in my dancing days when I was a teenager, you’re a different shape, different size, you’ve got a different amount of energy. So, coming back after having a baby and being 35, I think this is the wonderful thing about Strictly Come Dancing, that it doesn’t matter what background you come from or your dance background or your age or size or shape or any of that,’ she said.

‘It just encourages the love of dance and how much joy it can bring to people and it allows you to express yourself and I just think this is why I love it so much.’

When her involvement was announced on It Takes Two, Scarlett told host Janette Manrara she ‘just keeps crying all the time’.

‘I can say it out loud! I’m so excited,’ she said, adding taking part was a ‘dream’ and at the ‘top# of her bucket list.

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special airs tomorrow at 5.30pm on BBC One.

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