Natalie Gumede
Natalie Gumede has emerged as the new 'Strictly Come Dancing' favourite following reports she is a trained dancer.
The former 'Coronation Street' actress - who played evil Kirsty Soames in the ITV soap - has been backed into 5/1 favourite by bookmaker William Hill after it emerged her agency CV states she is "highly skilled" in cabaret, contralto, jazz dancing and Latin American.
Natalie's biography for the movie 'Side by Side' - which she starred in - boasts she has been "training as a dancer" since the age of three.
A show source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "It gives Natalie an unfair advantage. Fans expect them all to be beginners."
Following the reports, William Hill have slashed their odds on the 29-year-old beauty winning the competition after receiving several three-figure bets on her, but the bookmaker believes it could be down to her impressive performance training.
William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said: "We have had a string of three-figure bets for Natalie Gumede in the last 24 hours, the rumour is that Natalie has impressed in training."
A BBC spokesman said: "Natalie has never done ballroom dancing or dancing with a partner."
But Natalie is expected to face tough competition from fellow contestants Rachel Riley, Abbey Clancy, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Ben Cohen.