'Strictly Come Dancing' has been slapped with more 'fix' allegations after it emerged the judges get to watch the rehearsals backstage ahead of the main live show.

Len Goodman

Len Goodman

The panel - consisting of Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli - are reportedly allowed to see the celebrities and their professional partners practise their routines in order to prepare their comments.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "As far as the viewers are concerned, the first time the judges watch the routines, are when they are performed live.

"They always act with stunned surprise if a performance is really good or bad and make out their comments and marking are off the cuff.

"But in reality they have watched the routines hours earlier. The judges are with a producer who in all likelihood knows the previous week's voting figures.

"If there is someone they want to keep in, who is scoring low with viewers, they could mark them high and keep them in."

However, a spokesman for the BBC has shot down rumours the show is a set-up by claiming the judges do have the option to prepare their comments before the show but only to ensure their remarks are suitable before the watershed.

They added: "This has no impact whatsoever on the scores given on the night. At no point does anyone from production try to influence any of the judges' opinions."

Speculation the show was fixed began to circulate after professional dancer Ola Jordan claimed the judges are told by producers how to mark the contestants based on ratings.

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