Strictly Come Dancing's Chris Robshaw, Vicky Pattison and Balvinder Sopal 'at risk', warn ex pros
Two ex-pros have given their frank thoughts on the stars
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 stars Vicky Pattison, Chris Robshaw and Balvinder Sopal have been handed a warning by two former show pros.
Speaking exclusively to Entertainment Daily, ex-pro Vincent Simone said the trio should be worried about heading home this weekend.
His pal, fellow outspoken ex-Strictly pro Brendan Cole, doubled down on Vincent’s comments about Balvinder, even declaring that her pro partner Julian Caillon even looked like he was “new” to ballroom on last weekend’s show…
Trio of Strictly 2025 stars who ‘need to be worried’
Speaking on behalf of Paddy Power Games, Vincent told ED!: “Chris and Nadiya [Bychkova] need to be worried. He’s a big rugby player and a strong guy – and his posture has improved, but it’s still a bit static. He needs more power and movement across the floor,” Vincent explained of the star. “Covering space is very important.”
The second couple in danger of being voted out of the BBC dance show are Balvinder and Julian, Vincent reckons. “I’d also say that Balvinder needs to be careful next week. And if Vicky doesn’t really push herself soon, she could be in trouble too. I’m rooting for her, but she must go for it,” he said.
Speaking about Vicky, Vincent added that he’d love to see her do well in the competition. “Vicky Pattison’s still young, but for some reason she dances more like a mature woman. I’m not sure if that’s down to the choreography or her confidence, but she’s not yet showing the energy and playfulness she naturally has,” he told ED!.
“She needs to pick up speed and bring more energy. She’s such a beautiful girl, and I’d love to see that come through in her dancing. Right now, it’s a little safe, maybe from nerves. Once she pushes past that, she’ll be brilliant.”
‘Her pro looked like ballroom was new to him’
Brendan Cole, meanwhile, wasn’t quite so kind. ED! asked if Shirley Ballas’ comments to Balvinder on last weekend’s show were justified – and, sadly for Balvinder, Brendan thinks they were.
Speaking to ED! on behalf of Sky Vegas, Brendan said: “I found the dance quite dull and very poorly executed. It was pretty – a beautiful number visually, lovely concept – but it was boring and technically very poor. There was no energy in the number, no tone in her body.”
He then added: “Her pro looked like ballroom was new to him as well so perhaps he’s more of a Latin dancer as he’s very good at that style.”
Ouch!
Alex Kingston also in the danger zone
He also had a word of warning for Alex Kingston, who shared her cancer diagnosis earlier this month. “Her dance was also lovely to watch but lacking that tone – those muscles fully engaging throughout the routine.
“You’ve got two examples there of people who could be really, really good if they just find that sense of energy and connection in the body. They both perform very nicely, but there’s perhaps something missing, and it’s that tone from tip to toe that should never let go.”
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday (October 18) at 6.30pm on BBC One.
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