Strictly star, Darren Gough, reckons the judges know who will be in the bottom two before the live shows(Image: PA)

Strictly Come Dancing star accuses judges of making dance-off decisions before live show

Strictly Come Dancing winner, Darren Gough, has given his take on the class of 2024 and says he thinks the judges know how the celebrities will perform before the live shows

22 Oct 2024, 13:43 by Victoria Johns · The Mirror

Strictly Come Dancing champion, Darren Gough, reckons the judges know who will be in the bottom two before the live shows.

The former cricketer, 54, won the series in 2002, beating Zoe Ball and Welsh Olympian, Colin Jackson, in the final. He's now given his take on the class of 2024 while suggesting that the judges make their minds up about who may be performing their last Pasodoble after watching the celebrities' final rehearsals.

Speaking about the 2pm rehearsal on the BBC show on Saturday, he said: “I believe that's where the judges get a lot of their information from because they have to prepare as well. They have to have some idea of what they're going to do”.

Strictly Come Dancing winner, Darren Gough, has given his take on the class of 2024( Image: PA)

Darren has issued Chris McCausland with a warning before Saturday's show (Oct 26)( Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Darren continued: "I believe they watch that live rehearsal. Well, they're there. They're watching that live rehearsal and they get their little bits from there. Then, unless a disaster happens, in the evening, right, they get a lot of their info from that live rehearsal at 2pm on the Saturday," reports Online Betting Guide, OLBG.

It's been a mixed bag for some of the celebrities on this year's Strictly, however one star who is consistently impressing the judges and viewers is comedian, Chris McCausland.

The 47-year-old, who is the show's first blind contestant, is a shoo-in for the final. However, Darren has issued the star with a warning, urging Chris to stay out of the bottom two this weekend (26th October).

He said: “Chris has to stay out of that bottom two because if he gets in there, I think he goes, although it's remarkable what he's doing. I actually think I had a tear in my eye. It's amazing to do what he's doing, it’s an absolute inspiration to everybody watching. He deserves the biggest round of applause. Saying that, his dancing is getting better every week...[but] Can he keep that up when everybody else steps up as well?"

He reckons the judges watch the final rehearsals on Strictly( Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

Chris has certainly cemented his position as the favourite to lift the Glitterball trophy - but his startling success is causing BBC bosses a headache - because he can’t do the live UK tour.

A clash with his own stand-up dates means that if the comic does triumph in the 2024 series - he would be the first winner in the show’s history not to take his dancing shoes on the road afterwards. The problem lies with the comedian’s show, Yonks, which has dates throughout January and February that clash directly with Strictly’s live theatre show.

Chris' absence would prove a blow for fans because the dad-of-one, who has been blind since his 20s, has proven to be the stand-out star of the series. It also calls into question Craig Revel Horwood’s assurance that the BBC Studios-backed tour, which charges between £35 and £100 per ticket, will allow fans to see “their favourite celebrities and dancers up close and personal.”

The Mirror has contacted the BBC for comment on this story.

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