Strictly Come Dancing alum Brendan Cole has hailed former Love Island star Tasha Ghouri the strongest dancer in this year’s competition but doesn’t believe it will be enough to win.
Cole - who served as a professional dancer on the hit BBC dance competition from from 2004 until 2018 - told The Standard on behalf of Sky Vegas: “Tasha [Ghouri] is by far the best dancer, by far the most able, but she's probably not going to win it.
“Chris [McCausland] has a wonderful story. He's probably the worst dancer on the show, but he'll be in the final, no doubt, and will probably win.
“My personal favourites are Pete [Wicks] and Jowita [Jowita Przystał], just because from where they started, to where they are now, they've done so much better than everybody else for that reason.”
The 48-year-old New Zealand native also weighed-in after head judge Shirley Ballas faced a backlash for her decision to send home Shayne Ward.
Former X Factor winner and Coronation Street star Ward, 40, found himself in the bottom two with opera singer Wynne Evans, 52.
While judges Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse opted to save Ward and send home Evans instead, Anton Du Beke elected to save Evans, prompting Shirley Ballas to cast the fate-sealing vote. As head judge, her vote carried more weight and proved decisive.
The results left viewers frustrated with many online accusing Ballas of “favouritism”.
Former judge Dame Arlene Phillips has been vocal about not agreeing with the decision, while ex pro Ola Jordan called for show bosses to consider changing the judges.
Giving his own take on the situation, Cole said: “They could have three or even five judges. They have three in the US, which makes it easier, but then which one of them are you going to get rid of?”
