<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a miserable build-up to this year\u2019s Strictly Come Dancing<\/em>, from arguments over the casting of divisive Apprentice <\/em>star Thomas Skinner<\/a> to lingering scandals around inappropriate behaviour and alleged drug-taking<\/a>. So it must be a relief to Strictly<\/em>\u2019s producers that, following the start of the competition<\/a>, the biggest talking point is a very familiar one: whether celebrities with previous dance training should be allowed to compete.<\/p>\n Some viewers are even crying \u201cfix\u201d given that two accomplished contestants, musical theatre actors Lewis Cope and Amber Davies, were rushed in as last-minute replacements after Kristian Nairn and Dani Dyer withdrew with injuries. It\u2019s even been reported that Love Island <\/em>winner Davies was rejected from the show previously by BBC bosses<\/a> because she had too much dance experience.<\/p>\n Davies trained at London performing arts college the Urdang Academy, and has starred in West End shows like 9 to 5: The Musical <\/em>and The Great Gatsby<\/em>. She produced an impressive waltz in her Strictly <\/em>debut \u2013 despite only having three days\u2019 rehearsal.<\/p>\n Emmerdale <\/em>actor Cope also bounded up the leaderboard with his energetic jive, though some viewers grumbled that he\u2019d previously appeared in Billy Elliot the Musical <\/em>and competed on Sky One\u2019s Got to Dance<\/em>.<\/p>\n Both super-subs were pipped to the top spot by former Lioness Karen Carney, although any jubilation at this total beginner triumphing was short-lived: we\u2019ve since learnt that Carney competed in dance contests as a child before switching to football.<\/p>\n To which I say: so what? I have absolutely no patience with this hand-wringing over perceived unfairness, which seems to plague Strictly<\/em> every year. Yes, some celebrities begin with more dance ability than others, but that doesn\u2019t guarantee they\u2019ll win \u2013 quite the opposite, in fact.<\/p>\n Strictly<\/em>\u2019s history is teeming with contestants who powered into the competition as though shot out of a cannon, already able to do multiple spins and pop into the splits, only to discover that such overconfidence turns off viewers. The judges might reward them with 10 paddles galore, but they also need those crucial votes.<\/p>\n