FORMER Strictly dance professional Ola Jordan has named this year’s worst two celebrity contestants.
The straight talking polish dance champion has singled out Dr Punam Krishnan and Pete Wicks, as being the two who should be in line to leave the competition.
Ola starred on Strictly for nine years and lifted the glitterball in 2009 with partner Chris Hollins[/caption]
Mum-of-one Ola, 42, who is married to former Strictly dance professional James Jordan, 46, said:
“I think Punam and Pete are the weakest links in the competition – they’re the two worst dancers I would say. They both have ballroom numbers, so they’ll probably be okay.”
“I think someone good will be in the bottom two this week, possibly Shayne again even though I always thought Shayne would be good, I don’t think he’s that great.”
But Ola who has teamed up with Mecca Bingo, said that Pete’s large social media following could see him saved him from the dance off, in contrast to Dr Punam, who is less widely known.
“With Punam and Pete being the weakest dancers, I think Pete has more of a following, so he might possibly be getting more votes. I think Punam might be in the bottom two with a good dancer – someone like Shayne.”
The ballroom expert also adds that JLS star, JB Gill is a judges favourite and even if he ends up in the dance off again this week, as he did on last week’s show, the judges will save him.
She said: “I don’t think JB will be in the bottom two as he was in the bottom two last week and the judges will do everything to save him from being there again.”
The Latin dance professional starred on Strictly Come Dancing from 2006 until 2015, alongside her husband James, lifting the glitterball trophy in 2009 with her partner, the BBC sports presenter Chris Hollins.
Earlier this year it came to light that Ola had been accused of bullying her partner, Steve Backshall in 2014.
The TV wildlife presenter reportedly lodged a complaint with the BBC about his professional partner, branding her ‘rude’ ‘cold’ and ‘tough.’
He also found the rehearsals grueling and claimed that Ola’s impatient manner undermined his confidence.
After the complaint had been lodged, the pair were then assigned a chaperone to accompany them at all times in rehearsals.
Speaking about the aftermath of the experience, Steve described himself as ‘broken.’
“It has absolutely broken me. You are training all day long on hard wooden floors wearing dance shoes that have no give in them at all, and no cushioning.
“The impact travels straight all the way through my body and I’m just falling apart.”
But at the time, a show insider defended Ola as being the ultimate competitor.
“Ola is a strict taskmaster. She sees real potential in Steve and thinks he could go the distance in the competition.She won the trophy with Chris Hollins and would love to win again.”
The bullying claims around Ola emerged over the summer during the peak of the BBC crisis, when professional dancer Graziano Di Prima, 30, was dropped from the upcoming series following reports that he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner, Zara McDermott, 27, last year.
This followed the suspension of another pro, Giovanni Pernice, 33, over off-camera misconduct claims made by Amanda Abbington, 50, and two other former celebrity partners, which he denies.
Happily married for more than 20 years, Ola lives in Kent with husband James and their four-year-old daughter, Ella.
OLA’S ODDS
Online bookmaker Grosvenor Sport has priced up the Strictly Come Dancing odds.
Strictly Come Dancing – Next To Be Eliminated:
Punam Krishan – 6/4
Sam Quek – 3/1
Pete Wicks – 5/1
Shayne Ward – 11/2
Montell Douglas – 13/2
JB Gill – 8/1
Wynne Evans – 10/1
Jamie Borthwick – 33/1
Sarah Hadland – 50/1
Chris McCausland – 100/1
Tasha Ghouri – 100/1
Pete Wicks is also a weak link, but Ola thinks his fan base will save him[/caption]
Earlier this year it emerged that Ola’s 2014 partner Steve Backshall lodged a complaint about her work methods[/caption]
Ola in her signature sequinned catsuit after showing off the results of her weight loss last year[/caption]
