Joe Sugg’s Strictly success sparks call from pro dancers to ban YouTube stars as millions of followers bring an ‘unfair advantage’
WHEN Joe Sugg was announced as a Strictly Come Dancing contestant last year, most viewers had never heard of him.
But the YouTuber had a secret weapon when it came to voting — his legion of loyal online fans who ensured his place in the final.
Now the show’s professional dancers have asked BBC bosses to ban social media stars and vloggers this year, because they say they have “an unfair advantage”.
Joe packed quite a punch when it came to his online following — with eight million YouTube subscribers and more than five million followers on both Instagram and Twitter.
Producers had hoped the influencer would attract a younger audience, but the landslide vote in his favour week-after-week ruffled feathers in the Strictly camp.
A telly source said: “Joe’s huge popularity caused some tension last year after he was being voted to stay in the show each week.
“He wasn’t the best dancer, so his place on the show was purely based on his fanbase.
"Now the pros are going to unite and ask for no social media personalities for a year, to give everyone a level playing field.
“The professionals talk regularly discuss on different points relating to the show and this has been a hot topic.”
During the series last year, which was won by Stacey Dooley, I told how Joe fell for his partner Dianne Buswell despite trying to deny it at the time.
The romance, which they only confirmed publicly once the show was over, has led to Dianne starting her own YouTube channel with the guidance of Joe.
It’s almost as if that was her plan all along...
READ MORE FROM ANDY HALLS' BIZARRE TV COLUMN
It Murs be love
I HAD heard Olly Murs was on the hunt for a new girlfriend, but I didn’t realise OAPs were his type.
The singer couldn’t keep his hands off Mrs Brown, played by comic Brendan O’Carroll, during filming for Saturday night’s All Round To Mrs Brown’s.
But Agnes had competition from I’m A Celeb runner-up and guest Emily Atack, whose mum Kate Robbins was trying to play matchmaker between Olly and her daughter during the show.
It looks as if Mrs Brown got in there first . . .
Must watch
WHAT? Blue Planet Live, BBC1, 8pm.
WHY? Liz Bonnin finds how rising temperatures and plastic are affecting the Great Barrier Reef, and Steve Backshall explores a Caribbean wreck during a live dive.
LEE'S LEE IN MOTHERLAND
LEE MEAD won’t have to spend much time getting into character for his next gig – he is playing himself.
I can reveal the Holby City actor will appear in the second series of BBC2 comedy Motherland, out later this year, as the object of lead character Julia’s desire.
Julia, played by Anna Maxwell-Martin, finds out Lee has moved into the area and is desperate to meet him. A BBC source said: “The scenes were hilarious to film.”
Vote for the must-see moment
FILM awards season is well and truly over, but it will soon be the time of year where the best of telly is celebrated — starting with the Baftas.
And the first category to have its nominees announced is the sought-after Virgin Media Must-See Moment.
The gong, won by Blue Planet II’s heartbreaking scenes of a grieving whale last year, represents the most talked-about TV moments from the past 12 months.
Myself and a selected group of other telly critics have whittled it down to six nominees. Now it is up to the public to decide who takes home the gong on May 12.
Voting opens this morning, and closes on May 1 at 5pm.
Below are the six competing for the award.
Who's up for it?
Bodyguard, BBC: Julia Montague assassinated.
Coronation Street, ITV: Gail’s monologue on the suicide of Aidan Connor.
Doctor Who, BBC: Rosa Parks, The Doctor and her companions make sure historical moments remain.
Killing Eve, BBC: Eve stabs Villanelle.
Peter Kay’s Car Share, BBC: The Finale.
Queer Eye, Netflix: Tom completes his transformation.
Shirt-off rival Tom
POLDARK had better watch his shirtless back, because the lead in new ITV period drama Beecham House is set to compete with Aidan Turner in the exposed torso stakes.
The first episode of the show, which is set in India in 1795, features a topless Tom Bateman hacking into a hedgerow with a machete.
Show creator Gurinder Chadha admitted they felt compelled to compete with Aidan’s Poldark scything scene in the BBC drama. She said: “These poor guys, it’s always like: ‘C’mon take your shirt off!’”
Gurinder also revealed they had trouble getting extras during filming in Jaipur.
She said: “We didn’t want to fly English extras out, so you end up on a drama like this looking for tourists – including kids on holiday.” The Sunday night drama will air this summer.
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Soapbox
THE net closes in on Carla following the shocking Underworld roof collapse, in Coronation Street.
Rana’s grieving family want answers and start with the factory boss. She is later arrested on suspicion of gross- negligence manslaughter.
Michelle is mistrustful of ex Robert. He reappears at the Bistro and is evasive about his whereabouts for the past few days. Could he have had a hand in the incident?
In Neighbours, Dr Karl helps Finn to recall memories. He arranges day release from hospital to visit familiar places from Finn’s past, causing the patient to break down.
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