Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips has said the judges shouldn’t refer to Seann Walsh and Katya Jones’ kiss during this weekend’s show.
Comedian Seann was pictured kissing his married dance partner Katya and has now been dumped by his long-time girlfriend Rebecca Humphries.
Katya’s husband, fellow Strictly pro Neil Jones, has yet to speak out.
There had been calls for Seann and Katya to quit Strictly in the wake of the scandal, but BBC bosses confirmed on Tuesday they will dance as planned.
Read more: Strictly confirms Seann and Katya’s next dance
Appearing on ITV’s Lorraine on Wednesday, ex judge Arlene said what happens away from the dance floor should not creep into what happens on the show, and the kiss should not influence the judges’ remarks or scoring in any way.
She said of the judges: “I don’t think they should allude to it. Because whatever they do, whatever way they allude to it, they will be doing the wrong thing for somebody.
“We’ve had these difficult moments before. They have to come in and judge them on the dance. They have to be professional. They are hired as professional judges, they are hired to do that, they are not moral code judges. It’s about the dances, technique and storytelling.”
“It’s a brilliant, brilliant show,” she added.
“None of us know the absolute details of what has happened. For his girlfriend, everyone’s heart goes out to her…But I think the professional way is to carry on. For them to perform their dance to the best of the ability and for the judges to judge them in the way they always do, fairly.”
Arlene rubbished the idea Seann and Katya should step down from the show.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoBRrJNAQ3t/?hl=en&taken-by=mrs_katjones
“I absolutely think they should be allowed to dance,” she said. “They are consenting adults, the public appear to be the moral guardians.
“I’m not condoning what they did at all but it’s a dance competition, unless they have signed some kind of disclosure, that there is a behaviour contract, they are not about to be stopped from dancing, that’s what they are hired to do, dance.”
Arlene said she understood why partners could get close on Strictly, given the “passion, sensuality and storytelling” in dancing, and suggested if your relationship isn’t rock solid then perhaps Strictly isn’t the show for you.
“It’s such an intense relationship,” she said. “There is a goal, every Saturday night there is a target they have to hit to stay in the competition. The pros want to stay in, the celebrities want to stay in. You get closer and closer, you are thrown together.”
“Many people in a very strong relationship, it doesn’t matter how close you get or how physical you are, they go home. We all love Neil and Katya, there is a togetherness, in truth who knows what their relationship [is like]?
“And we know nothing about Seann’s relationship with his girlfriend.”
Meanwhile, Strictly head judge Shirley Ballas said on Wednesday’s This Morning she would be judging Seann and Katya purely on their dancing.
She said: “I’m not a newspaper reader so I’m probably the last to know any information going on. I just think people get on with their job. I’m here to judge a competition about dancing. I’m not there to judge anybody’s private life.”
Seann apologised on Twitter after the photos surfaced, writing: “In light of the story in today’s newspaper I would like to offer my sincere apologies for my actions.
In light of the story in today’s newspaper I would like to offer my sincere apologies for my actions. This is no excuse but it was a one-off drunken mistake which I am truly sorry for.
— Seann Walsh (@seannwalsh) October 7, 2018
“This is no excuse but it was a one-off drunken mistake which I am truly sorry for.”
Read more: Strictly’s Seann Walsh’s girlfriend dumps him after Katya Jones kiss
Katya, 29, said it was not a reflection of her marriage in an apology posted to her own Twitter account.
“I’m so sorry about any offence or hurt I may have caused with my actions,” she tweeted. “I wasn’t thinking and it was a one-off mistake after some drinks. I love my husband and we are very happy together, this is not a reflection on our relationship.”
I’m so sorry about any offence or hurt I may have caused with my actions. I wasn’t thinking and it was a one-off mistake after some drinks. I love my husband and we are very happy together, this is not a reflection on our relationship.
— katya Jones (@Mrs_katjones) October 7, 2018
Seann, 32, and Katya are set to continue to dance together on the BBC show and will perform the Charleston on Saturday night’s live show.
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