Len Goodman has shut down claims 'Strictly Come Dancing' is fixed.
Len Goodman
The former dancer and judge on the BBC One show has hit back at claims made by professional Ola Jordan that the judges are told who to mark up or down to ensure they stay in the competition.
He said: "Eleven years I've done this show and never has a producer come up to us and said, 'Mark this person up a bit, we want them to stay in.' They never interfere with our integrity, they never tell us what to say, we are not scripted to say this or that.
"We just come out, say what we see and give a score and I totally understand sometimes I'll give someone a seven and millions of people sitting at home will say that's a nine. We've all got opinions. It's taste, I like Brussels sprouts, you don't.
"It doesn't make it right or wrong, it's taste and that's how dancing works. I do hope we can draw a line under this now."
The 71-year-old star also addressed claims departing contestant Jamelia should have stayed in the show after some believed she performed better than her rival Peter Andre in the dance off.
Speaking on 'Strictly Come Dancing's sister show, 'It Takes Two', he added: "Now, when it comes to the dance off, you just mark on what you see with this dance. To say was clear cut, it wasn't.
"I have watched it back and I did think Peter danced a little bit better ... so I can well understand that then other judges went for Peter and I still felt Jamelia was a little bit better, but it doesn't make me right and it doesn't make them wrong."
Tagged in Jamelia Len Goodman Ola Jordan