Anton du Beke’s dance partner Erin Boag has suggested two celebrity royal contestants that could completely transform Strictly Come Dancing’s already massive appeal
Reality show Strictly Come Dancing has snagged a range of memorable contestants in its 21 years on British TV screens.
But there’s one guest – or pair of guests – who could really make Strictly history, according to former professional Erin Boag, who appeared on the first 10 series of the show alongside her regular dance partner Anton du Beke.
“It would be great to see a royal do Strictly,” Erin says, adding that she has one particular royal couple in mind.
“I feel like we need to get some big names in there. Some really big names – that would be great.
“Mike Tindall versus Zara Tindall,” Erin suggests. “They wouldn’t be the first couple to take part, we had Gabby and Kenny Logan!”
Former England international Mike might struggle on the dance flour, though, Erin concedes: “Mike’s quite big though. I’ve danced with rugby players. One big, one nimble. It depends on their size.
“I first danced with Martin Offiah, I mean …Jesus, he was known for his speed. But he was also known for his bulk.
She told Genting Casino’s 20k Spins competition: “Then you get somebody like Austin Healey… and Matt Dawson did it well. They both played winger and because they’re known for their nimbleness and they’re small, they were both phenomenal.”
Erin was often paired with sporting personalities on the show – earning her best-ever score, a 39, with sprinter Colin Jackson and a lowly 21 when paired with former England goalie Peter Shilton.
She was also paired with former footballer Peter Schmeichel and the late snooker player Willie Thorne. Her best performance saw her finish second with Jackson.
Palace advisors might not be keen on risking Princess Anne’s well-loved daughter and son-in law being exposed to the kind of mockery that followed 1987’s Grand Knockout Tournament – remembered as the PR disaster It’s a Royal Knockout.
In that televised event, conceived and organised by Prince Edward, Zara’s mother Anne, Princess Royal and the then-Duke and Duchess of York led teams of celebrities in a range of daft physical challenges inspired by the popular international game show It’s A Knockout.
It was not popular with senior royals, but Edward pressed ahead. His father Prince Philip said the show was “unwise and unwelcome”.
He told one BBC executive: “Why doesn’t Edward let the TV people get on with it and just turn up to accept the cheques? He’s making us look foolish.”
James Whitaker, who was often described as “the royal correspondent’s royal correspondent,” said that the programme – which commanded a TV audience of over r400 million – was a “total watershed” in the public’s perception of the Royal Family. “If you really had to pin down where it all went wrong, I would always point to It’s a Royal Knockout,” he said.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply