Darren Gough Discusses Strictly Come Dancing Judges

Darren Gough, the 2005 winner of Strictly Come Dancing, has shared insights into the show's judging process ahead of its 20th anniversary Halloween special. He suggests that judges often form their scores based on final rehearsals rather than live performances, indicating a pre-determined bias. Gough predicts that comedian Chris McCausland, currently favored to win, may face elimination if he lands in the dance-off, with EastEnders' Jamie Borthwick and Love Island's Tasha Ghouri as potential contenders. He expressed concerns about the judging difficulty stemming from the variety of dance styles performed weekly, contrasting it with the uniformity of his time on the show. Gough also called for more sports stars, such as Kevin Pieterson and Gareth Bale, to participate in future series. His comments reflect an evolving competition where judges' influence is more pronounced than public voting in eliminations.