Former judge Arlene Phillips backs Ed Balls on Strictly Come Dancing as she praises his ‘great performance skills’
The choreographer is set to take to the stage in panto for the very first time
FORMER Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips has surprisingly backed contestant Ed Balls on the show.
And while admitting that he may be considered the "novelty" act, she also revealed she thought the former politician had "amazing rhythm."
Speaking to The Sun Online in between rehearsals for her first ever pantomime Dick Whittington, Arlene said: "Ed Balls is such fun. All the novelty, comedy dance routines they're getting - there’s nothing he can't tackle, he’s fearless.
"Amazing rhythm, gets every step right - well, maybe not the lift a couple of weeks ago...
"He’s not technical but he certainly has lots of fire."
She went on: "He has great spirit and performance skills.
"Ultimately the winner of Strictly year in year out, has always had the technique as well as everything else – but it just depends. He's obviously bottom of the leaderboard, but he’s never been in the dance-off, so who knows?
"It’s all about staying out of the dance-off. He is amazing."
And as a former member of the Strictly family, Arlene was shocked to hear about professional dancer Gorka Marquez's horrific gang attack in Blackpool.
But she's adamant that it hasn't ruined the excitement of going to the historic ballroom each year.
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"It was a really tragic unfortunate incident," said Arlene. "But you can't hold it up and say forever the joy of Blackpool will be lost.
"It was a horrible thing to happen to anyone. We all walk around places we think nothing will ever happen – we are all a few paces away from something."
At 73-years-old the choreographer is about to make her panto debut as Fairy Bowbells in New Wimbledon Theatre's Christmas offering.
Arlene admits that it feels "odd being on stage", rather than "being in the auditorium shouting and yelling at the people on stage."
She confessed: "The first day of rehearsals, I cannot remember waking up and having nerves the way I did on Monday morning, because I sort of almost didn’t know how to approach it!"
Arlene stars alongside Matthew Kelly and Tim Vine in Dick Whittington at New Wimbledon Theatre, December 9 to January 15.
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