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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Tobi Akingbade

Strictly Come Dancing's Katya Jones thinks Kelvin Fletcher 'might struggle' with ballroom dancing

Strictly Come Dancing professional Katya Jones has made a dig at Kelvin Fletcher, claiming he could have dificulties ballroom dancing later in the competition - despite topping the leaderboard in the first week.

Jones, who came in eighth place during the first week with dance partner Mike Bushell, appeared on Chris Moyles’ Radio X to discuss the show.

Moyles said: “Now, Kelvin Fletcher, I met him years ago. Now he’s got the body of a dancer already!”

“Yeah! And he can dance like a pro, can’t he, already?” Bushell added.

Katya Jones and Mike Bushell on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X (Radio X/ Facebook)

Despite Fletcher blowing the judges away with his “electrifying” samba on Saturday, Jones was far from impressed.

Responding to Bushell, she said: “Well that’s not exactly true because if you’ve got too much muscle sometimes you haven’t got the flexibility you see.”

“Oh, you’re gonna be alright Mike!” Moyles added.

Oti Mabuse and Kelvin Fletcher amazed the judges (BBC/Guy Levy)

She added: “But he’s [Fletcher] got the best of both – he’s got the look, the muscles - however in ballroom he might struggle because when you’ve got the frame it’s got to be completely flat but where his shoulders are so… it might be a struggle so let’s see, you know."

Fletcher and dance partner Oti Mabuse received a standing ovation from the studio audience on Saturday, before earning lavish praise from the panel.

Katya and Mike during Saturday's live show (PA)

They shot to the top of the leaderboard, receiving scores of eight from all four judges, giving them a total mark of 32 - the highest score in any opening episode in the last five years.

"It was electrifying," Judge Shirley Ballas said, before joking that she had been left overwhelmed by the performance.

"I'm the oldest one here so I need my fan and my beads," she laughed, to her colleagues' amusement.

Fletcher was called in to replace Jamie Laing who was forced to drop out before the live shows after injuring himself during filming for the launch episode.

Saturday’s live show gave the contestants the chance to perform in front of the live studio audience without a public vote.

Fans will be able to vote to save their favourite couple from next week's show.

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