GOGGLEBOX legend Scarlett Moffatt has defended her dance training amid rumours of a “fix” ahead of the Strictly Christmas special.
The 35-year-old is set to compete against a star-studded line-up, including Brian McFadden, Melanie Blatt, Jodie Ounsley aka Fury, Nicholas Bailey and Babtunde Aléshé.
But she suffered backlash from show fans after realising she competed in national dance competitions as a child.
Despite being an early favourite, Scarlett insists she hasn’t picked up where she left off all those years ago.
“I feel they’ve really hyped me up,” laughed Scarlett.
“I enjoy dancing, but that was when I was a little girl, I’m 35 now.
“I did dance, but it was so long ago. So I did Old Time and Sequence, which is a bit like ballroom and Latin. Strictly started when I was 13, and I remember it starting, thinking, ‘oh, this is the coolest thing ever’.
“When I was little, this sounds so sad, but I used to follow the dancers online.
“Anton and Erin were doing a show and at the end of the show, they would teach people how to do a bit of a foxtrot or a bit of a waltz. I went to that when I was eight and Anton signed a piece of paper which I’ve still got.
“That somehow was translated into that I was trained by Anton. Somehow that’s been twisted and I am professionally trained by Anton. It’s so funny though, man. You’ve got to laugh, haven’t you?
“I just hope people aren’t expecting too much, you know what I mean?
“But what I will say is I’m going to give it 110%. I’m just so excited to get on the dance floor and dance.”
Last October, Scarlett returned to a competitive ballroom for the first time in 15 years at Blackpool‘s Winter Gardens, achieving two 2nd places and two 3rd places with her dance partner Craig Andrew.
The I’m A Celeb legend gave birth to son Jude by C-section in 2023 and Scarlett told fans she’d “never been so nervous but so proud of myself” after returning to her childhood hobby.
Tomorrow evening she will dance with Italian pro Vito Coppola in the Strictly Christmas special.
Scarlett added: “It is liberating getting onthe dancefloor because, obviously back in my dancing days when I was a teenager, you’re a different shape, different size, you’ve got a different amount of energy.
“So coming back after having a baby and being 35, I think this is the wonderful thing about Strictly Come Dancing, that it doesn’t matter what background you come from or your dance background or your age or size or shape or any of that.
“It just encourages the love of dance and how much joy it can bring to people and it allows you to express yourself and I just think this is why I love it so much.
“The Christmas special is a proper tradition in our house. We watch the King’s Speech and then we’re like, ‘yes, Strictly is going to come on’. And we always try and guess who we think is going to win. So I guess we can’t play that game this year…”
It will be presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman‘s final show, having hung up their hosting boots.
“It’s a massive honour tobe on their final show,” added Scarlett.
“The finale dance is so beautiful and hopefully it’s a really nice send-off.
“When I’m dancing, in my head it’s almost a thank you, because I’ve just loved watching them so much and it’s weird, but I feel I know them because they’ve been such a big part of my family for so long, in traditions and the build-up for Christmas.
“So, yeah, I think everyone’s gonna miss them. Everyone’s going to miss them.”
