Strictly Come Dancing winner shares major BBC show secret ahead of Halloween special

Cricket legend Darren Gough, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2005, has been sharing some backstage secrets just before the BBC show's 20th anniversary Halloween special this weekend - including a major insight about the judging process.

For Darren suspects the judges form opinions ahead of the live performances based on what they see during final rehearsals. "I believe that's where the judges get a lot of their info from [final rehearsals] because they have to prepare as well. They have to have some idea of what they're going to do," he explained to OLBG.

Currently leading the odds to clinch the 2024 Strictly crown is comedian Chris McCausland, yet Darren has his doubts, particularly if Chris lands in the dreaded dance off, a situation he's managed to avoid until now. Instead, Darren backs EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick for the top spot and sees Love Island alumna Tasha Ghouri not far behind in the race.

"If he gets in there (dance off), I think he goes," Darren said regarding Chris, who received praise from judge Craig Revel Horwood earlier this month with the compliment: "You can dance."

For Darren believes that since judges now have the deciding vote in a dance-off instead of relying solely on the public's say as before, it ensures that the best dancers make it to the final, not necessarily the audience's favourites.

Both Shayne Ward and JB Gill, considered among the better dancers, recently found themselves in the dance off but survived after the judges' voted.

Darren said: "I was never in the bottom two because the public mainly voted, but now, if you're a good dancer, you're literally guaranteed to get to that last four because the judges always have that final say, right?

"I think JB, as long as he's not in the bottom two with one of the other three or four who are better than him, he's going to keep getting through.

"So, that's the secret, stay out of the bottom two, but the public have got to enjoy you and at the minute, they've not really attracted themselves to JB or Shayne. I think Shayne is an absolutely fantastic dancer and he's another one who could improve; but again, the public is not really buying into it yet, but that can change quickly."

The former Glitterball trophy winner wants to see sports stars Kevin Pietersen, Gareth Bale, and Andy Murray grace the Strictly dance floor. He notes that judging has become "very difficult now" since contestants are performing different styles of dance each week, reports Birmingham Live.

"Back when I did it, we all did the same dance that week, so you could judge everyone. I find it very difficult now, how do you actually judge someone when you've got someone doing a Waltz, someone doing a Quickstep and someone doing a Jive? Naturally, some of the dancers are full of energy and some aren't, and the public is like, 'This is a boring dance'.

"They've just seen a Quickstep and then they watch a Rumba... you're going to struggle to get points."

Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer