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Cheryl admits she has ‘least dance experience’ and limited right to criticise The Greatest Dancer competitors
CHERYL TWEEDY may be the best known of The Greatest Dancer judges but she has the least dance experience.
Now she has admitted as much — and concedes she has limited right to criticise the competitors on the BBC1 show, which launches on January 5.
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Her fellow judges are Strictly’s Oti Mabuse and Glee’s Matthew Morrison, who is an experienced Broadway performer. Cheryl said: “They’ve had really long careers in dance and in performing arts.
“Mentoring other people one-on-one like I did on X Factor might help me with the mentality of how things go. But in terms of knowledge and stuff, they’re more than qualified.”
The Girls Aloud singer may have enjoyed a pop career which involved lots of on-stage moves but she isn’t familiar with as many styles of dance as she will be faced with in the TV series, created by Simon Cowell’s firm Syco.
Of her formal training, Cheryl said: “The thing I was probably most experienced with was, I went to summer school at the Royal Ballet when I was nine... and now I’m like 35.
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Cheryl breaks down in tears at incredible performance in first trailer for The Greatest Dancer
“So beyond a pas de chat I probably couldn’t tell them much more. I couldn’t tell a ballerina what to do.
“It was a long time ago.”
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But she insists that didn’t mean she just chose dancers who posed the least challenge as a mentor.
Instead, the show, hosted by Britain’s Got Talent’s Alesha Dixon and Diversity star Jordan Banjo, sees her select those with the greatest potential.
Cheryl added: “I’ve definitely got a diverse group. It’s gonna be fun and I wanna be challenged as well. I don’t want to sit in my comfort zone.”
Something tells me that isn’t going to happen, Cheryl.
Cheryl flosses in a black mini-dress at Greatest Dancer launch
READ ON FOR THE REST OF
ANDY HALLS'
BIZARRE TV COLUMN
Stylish Shirl has the hump
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We're a lot more used to seeing Shirley Ballas sitting proudly on the judges’ panel of Strictly.
But the Latin champion swapped it for a less glamorous seat on top of a camel for her latest TV project.
Shirley braved the high plateau country in Morocco to film the Matchmaker Mountain segment of ITV’s This Morning, which begins on January 8, where the dance queen helps over-50s find romance.
Even on a camel, she’s still got poise and glamour.
Ruth Langsford doesn't look amused as Shirley Ballas flirts with her husband Eamonn Holmes on This Morning
Dom backs the #MeToo agenda
HE has been filmed in quite a few romps but actor Dominic West has criticised TV shows for pressuring actresses into stripping off.
The Wire star, who is about to hit our screens as reformed convict Jean Valjean in BBC1’s six-part adaptation of Les Miserables, said he was relieved the #MeToo movement was starting to combat it.
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Speaking to the Radio Times, Dominic said: “Treatment of women has taken a big step back in the past 20 years. Particularly in television, which has become more pornographic and the burden of that falls squarely on young women.
“Things like Game Of Thrones, where you get a pair of bare breasts every five minutes.
“I’m fairly sure that 20 years ago, young actresses would not have had pressure put on them to take their clothes off.
“The parts young actresses get, particularly pretty ones, involve violent rape.”
Harvey Weinstein judge rejects his legal team's bid to dismiss #MeToo sexual assault case against him
Dominic – who features in the Victor Hugo drama which starts on Sunday at 9pm – also blames the increasing use of social media and internet porn for warping our youngsters’ minds.
And he makes a good point.
But let’s wait and see how racy Les Miserables turns out to be. It is adapted by Andrew Davies, who is known for “sexing up” stories.
Are shoe kidding?
THE Voice coach Jennifer Hudson has hit on a new way to show contestants she is impressed.
The singer and actress has taken to chucking her footwear at singers who impress her on the contest, which returns to ITV on January 5 at 8pm.
She said: “I’ve thrown quite a few shoes! It’s just I really don’t know how to define it . . . it’s a compliment, though. It means you are singing so well I’m gonna throw my shoe at you! Y’know? And it’s the highest compliment is all I can say.”
Let’s just hope the contestants don’t then put their foot in it.
Mandela versus Monroe
FROM Marilyn Monroe to Pele, we all think we’d be able to instantly name our greatest hero of the 20th Century.
But a new BBC2 show will remind us what an awesome array of trailblazers there are to choose from.
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Icons, which starts on January 8 at 9pm, has got a long line up of famous faces hosting, including movie star Kathleen Turner and national treasure Sir Trevor McDonald.
They will each present one episode, then ask the public to vote for the best of the best, with the overall winner unveiled in a grand final in February.
Other hosts are sports presenter Clare Balding, X Factor’s Dermot O'Leary, model and actress Lily Cole, naturalist Chris Packham and actor Sanjeev Bhaskar.
They will outline the contribution of pioneers in leadership, exploration, science, entertainment, activism, sports and the arts.
MOST READ IN BIZARRE
The names nominated – 28 in all – have been selected by a panel of experts and academics. They include Pablo Picasso, Nelson Mandela, Alan Turing and Charlie Chaplin.
If only Love Island and Ex On The Beach had been around last century, that list could have been so different . . .
Soapbox
In Emmerdale Bernice goes on the warpath, Nicola seeks to make amends and Victoria goes green-eyed as she feels the stab of jealousy.
In Coronation Street Gail tails Lewis to a secret hotel assignation, and Peter takes possession of the old snooker hall.
Meanwhile, unlikely allies Dev and Kirk join forces to play a prank and spooky goings-on leave Peter and Simon snookered.
Mel’s plot to bring Ray down in EastEnders comes closer to fruition as she continues the preparations for her wedding – only for Maddie to admit she is having doubts about their plan.
Ray makes a surprising request of Phil – and Karen tries to cheer up both Keegan and Keanu.
Must watch
WHAT? Take That: We’ve Come a Long Way, BBC1, 7pm
WHY? Hour-long docu celebrates one of Britain’s best-loved manbands as they mark 30 spectacular years in the music business.
Take That's Jason Orange has 'gone off grid and isn't replying to phone calls' reveals Howard Donald on Loose Women
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