Brendan Cole has criticised the latest series of 'Strictly Come Dancing' - claiming it is now a popularity contest rather than a serious competition.

Brendan Cole

Brendan Cole

The 43-year-old former pro dancer doesn't believe that documentary maker Stacey Dooley was a worthy winner of the glitterball trophy on Saturday night (15.12.18) because her ballroom skills did not match those of former Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts, who was criticised for having previous dance experience throughout her time on the dancefloor.

Appearing on 'Good Morning Britain', he said: "How boring would the show be if everyone was of a certain standard? What I loved about Ashley was every single week she was better than the last."

When host Piers Morgan questioned how less talented dancer Stacey could be voted to be the winner by the viewing public, Brendan replied: "It's a popularity contest and that's how the show wants it. I think it makes a bit of a mockery of it. At the same time it's an entertainment show."

Brendan appeared in 15 series of the show but was dropped ahead of the current season after BBC executives refused to renew his contract.

The dance expert also believes that only judge Craig Revel Horwood is fair when he scores the celebrities and thinks that the rest of the panel - which consists of Dame Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Shirley Ballas - are far too generous with their marks.

He said: "Well Craig is usually bang on the money but I'm not sure about the rest of them. I was really disappointed with how many tens were thrown about across the board from various judges. Ten means it's perfect and I'm sorry but I haven't seen a perfect dance on Strictly in my 15 years. You get as close to a ten, especially in a final, but when they start giving them out on week three and week four you think, 'We've got nowhere to go.' "

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