A former Strictly Come Dancing professional has broken her silence, branding reality star Vicky Pattison's elimination from the hit BBC show as a near 'stitch-up'.
The Dramatic Sunday Night Exit
Vicky Pattison and her professional partner, Kai Widdrington, saw their Strictly journey come to an end on the results show of Sunday, November 16. Their departure was confirmed after the judges unanimously chose to save rivals Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon following a tense dance-off.
Julian and Balvinder performed an American Smooth, winning over all four judges: Craig Revel-Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke. This decision marked the emotional conclusion to Vicky and Kai's eight-week run on the competition, with the pair sharing a heartfelt hug during their final dance.
Ola Jordan's Verdict: A 'Stitch-Up'?
Ola Jordan, who graced the Strictly ballroom as a professional dancer from 2006 to 2015, did not hold back in her analysis. She revealed that what upset her most was that Vicky was 'probably the most improved out of all of them.'
Speaking to Mecca Bingo, Ola elaborated on the challenge Vicky faced. 'Vicky was amazing in the tango last week, absolutely brilliant,' she said. 'This week, getting the jive was almost like a stitch-up. I mean, it’s not, because you get what you’re given. But unfortunately, if she had a Couple’s Choice, she wouldn’t have gone.'
Ola praised Vicky's consistent effort, noting she always gave her all despite not being a trained dancer. However, she pinpointed the week eight jive as a critical misstep. 'When I heard she was doing a jive, I knew she was going to struggle,' Ola stated. She also criticised the song choice, saying it made the routine feel 'heavy and flat-footed' and lacked the right energy.
The Uphill Battle for Non-Dancers
Jordan went on to highlight a recurring issue within the competition: the difficulty for celebrities with no prior dance training. 'It does make me feel sorry that the people who haven’t had dance training – it’s so hard for them to compete against all the others,' she explained.
She pointed to the current leaderboard, observing that almost every other contestant, apart from La Voix, has had some form of dance training. This, she argued, creates an uneven playing field, making it exceptionally challenging for true beginners like Vicky to succeed.
Despite the disappointing exit, Ola's final words were full of praise for the reality star. 'She should be proud of herself,' she affirmed, cementing the view that Vicky Pattison's Strictly journey, though cut short, was one marked by significant improvement and dedication.
Strictly Come Dancing continues with week nine at the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Saturday, November 22, on BBC One.
