Strictly Come Dancing finalist Tasha Ghouri has spoken out in defense of trained dancers competing on the show,arguing that their presence creates a 'good balance of entertainment.'

The $30 million toe in the water

The Strictly Come Dancing franchise has long been a staple of British entertainment, but rceent controversies surrounding trained dancers have sparked heated debates about the show's rules and fairness.

Ghouri, who rose to fame on Love Island, faced sustained criticism and accusations of a 'fix' after receiving perfect scores, with many viewers contending that her professional dance background gave her an unfair advantage over contestants with no prior experience.

She acknowledged the inevitable backlash but emphasized that she had never danced ballroom or Latin before Strictly,framing her participation as a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

The debate over the competition's rules intensified after former England footballer Karen Carney's win, with claims she had received street dance instruction in her youth, and following Alesha Dixon's victory in series five despite her professional pop group background.

Ghouri pointed to the show's longstanding tradition of including contestants with varying levels of dance experience ,from West End star Amber Davies to former footballer Chris McCausland, who also faced scrutiny over past training.

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Ghouri's uncertain ftuure with the Strictly franchise remains a mystery, with reports suggesting that she was asked to return to the spin-off show It Takes Two in a regular role, but has not heard from producers amid a format overhaul.

Presenters Fleur East and Janette Manrara are understood to have depparted, and it has been suggested the programme will return in September as a 'vodcast ,' mirroring the companion show format used for The Traitors and The Apprentice.

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Ghouri expressed her desire to remain involved with the Strictly brand in some capacity , stating, 'I'd love the opportunity to keep working with Strictly somehow,' but confirmed that no concrete plans are in place.