'Strictly Come Dancing' head judge Shirley Ballas insists even stars with previous dance experience will find the Latin and ballroom routines challenging.
Shirley Ballas says 'Strictly' is challenging for all, including those with dance experience
There was a backlash after it was revealed that this year's contestant, Angela Scanlon, 39, has a job in dance across the pond and trained at O'Shea Irish Dance Company.
Actor Layton Williams, 28, has also danced in West End musicals, including 'Everybody's Talking About Jamie' and 'Billy Elliot' and is a skilled ballet dancer.
Shirley told The Mirror: "If somebody goes to stage school for singing and acting, there's always normally a little bit of dance included."
The former Latin champion, 62, defended the pair partaking in the BBC One celebrity dance competition, explaining how it can vary from other forms of dance.
She added: "If you take a jazz dancer, they dance on their own, they do their thing, unless they're in a group.
"You take ballroom dancing, you really have to learn to dance with a partner - that's four arms, four legs, two heads, two quarters... you've got to be intertwined and working together."
After it was revealed that she had joined the show, Angela insisted she has "never" danced ballroom in her life.
She said: "I've never done any of these dances in my life, bar a drunken jive at a family wedding. So, it certainly feels like there is room to learn and to really push myself.
"Look, I'm not particularly fit. I've no idea how my pelvic floor is going to react to that level of jumping."
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