BBC Strictly’s Angela Scanlon getting ‘unfair treatment’ from judges pro claims

Angela Scanlon has received “unfair treatment” from the judges, according to Brendan Cole.

The Irish presenter, 39, and partner Carlos Gu performed a Samba to Jennifer Lopez’s Ain’t It Funny, on Strictly Come Dancing during Saturday’s live show.

Craig Revel Horwood told the pair that he’d “only enjoyed watching from the waist down” as head judge Shirley Ballas said Angela had been wildly “flailing” her arms during the performance. “Your arms are as long as your legs and they need a home!” she told the presenter.

The dancing duo received a six from Craig and sevens from all the other judges giving them a total of 27 points out of 40.

It proved to be the joint lowest score of the night along with Adam Thomas and Luba Mushtuk.

Dancer Brendan, who worked on Strictly for 15 years, praised Angela’s technique saying it was in the top 10 per cent of Samba’s you will ever see on the BBC show.

“I was really disappointed for Angela [Scanlon] and Carlos [Gu] again. I don’t think the judges like them, it’s as simple as that,” he exclusively told Sky Bingo. “The overwhelming critique from the judges is that she had her ‘weight back’, there wasn’t a lot else to comment on.”

He added: “A Samba is a ridiculous dance, there are so many things to learn to make it look good and I believe she achieved that.”

Brendan went on: “It’s often said that it’s the hardest of all the Latin dances to master. There are so many different techniques, different timings and rhythms, it goes in so many different directions and it’s fast. The speed changes are what make a Samba.

“I think Angela and Carlos managed to create a great number. They looked fantastic – what she achieved within the technique was as good as probably the top 10% of Samba’s you’ve ever seen on the show, yet she wasn’t praised for that and I feel a bit sorry for them.”

Angela avoided the dance-off with her co-star Angela Rippon and dance partner Kai Widdrington had to go up against Adam and Luba, with the latter being voted out of the competition.

However, the bookies believe that the Irish presenter’s time on the show could be up.

The star has dropped from being 7/2 to win the show, to 16/1.

Lawrence Lyons, a spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “It’s been a bit of a roller coaster for Angela Scanlon on Strictly and while she has swerved the dreaded dance-off so far, it could all change this weekend as she’s no longer in step with punters.”

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday at 6.05pm.