Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Ola Jordan has described Thomas Skinner’s salsa as “probably the worst” she’s ever seen, after he became the first celebrity to be eliminated from this year’s series.
The Apprentice star, 33, and his professional partner Amy Dowden were sent home on Sunday night after losing the dance-off to actor Tristan Gemmill. Their upbeat salsa failed to win over the judges or the public, despite Skinner’s larger-than-life personality.
Jordan, who was a Strictly pro for ten years, said the performance “wasn’t pretty at all”, explaining that while Skinner could lift his partner with ease, there was “no hip action” and “very few proper salsa steps”. She described the routine as “basic and flat-footed”, adding that the song choice “probably didn’t help” because it “wasn’t really a salsa song”.
“I could see he was gutted,” she told Mecca Bingo. “But am I surprised people didn’t vote? No. Watching that, I’m not surprised. It’s a shame for Amy and for him, because I know he wanted to stay longer.”
Dowden’s return to the ballroom this year has been widely praised after she was forced to miss most of last series while undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
Skinner, meanwhile, proved a more divisive figure among viewers — his outspoken personality and “bosh” catchphrase made him a memorable contestant, though not always a universally popular one.
Jordan was far more complimentary about athlete Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, who impressed with his quickstep alongside Karen Hauer.
She called him a “dark horse” in the competition, praising the amount of authentic choreography in his routine and his strong posture.
“He did a really good job,” she said. “He had loads of proper quickstep steps and there was no messing about. I’d like him to stride more around the floor with bigger steps and keep his eyeline up, but overall, he’s definitely one to watch.”
Looking ahead to Movie Week, Jordan admitted she’s a little cautious, warning that “sometimes the themes overshadow the dancing”. She added: “I want to see proper steps, not just acting.”
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6.35pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
