Strictly Come Dancing has shut down claims of favouritism towards two of its celebrity participants.
A recent report in The Sun claimed that BBC documentary host Zara McDermott and EastEnders star Bobby Brazier had been receiving preferential treatment from bosses as they are seen as “BBC favourites”.
However, a Strictly source has insisted this is not the case, telling HuffPost UK: “All of the judges are hugely experienced individuals who judge on dance and dance alone in the main show and in the dance offs.
“Any conspiracy theories suggesting otherwise are simply untrue.”
A spokesperson for Strictly Come Dancing declined to comment when contacted by HuffPost.
Zara has hosted a number of documentaries for the BBC since appearing on Love Island in 2018. Next year she will present a four-part series for BBC about the the inner workings of Ibiza.
Bobby is best known for playing Freddie Slater on EastEnders since 2022, and he is the son of the late television personality Jade Goody and presenter Jeff Brazier.
On Sunday, Zara landed in the dance-off for the second time alongside comedian Eddie Kadi on Sunday night.
The result saw the former Love Island contestant was saved by all the judges, with Eddie and his dance partner Karen Hauer sent home.
Many viewers on X (formerly known as Twitter) vocal in their disappointment, as they believed his performance outshined Zara’s.
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday at 6.40pm on BBC One.