Strictly Come Dancing is facing a new fix row, according to a report which claims former JLS star, Aston Merrygold, is being marked down because of his previous dance training.
Read more: SCD viewers lack sympathy as contestant gets even lower score than previous week
The Sun Online claims a show insider revealed producers are worried about Aston, 29, becoming the runaway leader and viewers losing interest in the BBC1 hit.
Former professionals James and Ola Jordan have backed up the source’s claims. James revealed: “Aston’s dance was full of brilliant lifts and tricks.
“But the judges twist scores. Someone does an amazing performance and they don’t want them to run away with it.
“They did it with Danny Mac last year. I get irate about it.”
Aston’s performances on Saturday were thought to be some of the best Strictly has ever seen, but judges penalise him to stop him getting such a huge lead early on.
James added: “It’s meant to be about teaching someone who’s not danced before. You won’t see a Darren Gough or Mark Ramprakash win again.”
His wife, Ola told the publication that she feels bad for the trained dancers getting penalised but says Strictly are to blame for choosing them in the first place.
Aston, who is dancing with Janette Manara, was tipped to win the dancing competition back in August, before he’d even stepped onto the dance floor.
The singer, who is expecting his first child with girlfriend Sarah Richards, performed amazing back-flipping routines back in his boy band days.
He also was a judge on Sky’s dance talent show Got To Dance.
A source told The Sun that Aston had an unfair advantage before the series even began. The spy said: “It doesn’t have to be ballroom or Latin dancing experience to give someone an edge.
“Aston spent years being choreographed in JLS, and that rhythm and ability to follow instructions put him streets ahead of competitors.”
He is also best friends with former Strictly champion Louis Smith — the pair grew up together in Peterborough.
“We used to have dance-offs as kids, but ‘street’ and ‘breaking,'” said Aston.
Aston has also showed off his dance skills on TV talent show Stars in the Eyes – as a 14-year-old he appeared as Michael Jackson. He was also in children’s TV show Fun Song Factory.
He’s been to the Strictly Come Dancing studios before, having turned up to support Louis. He said at the time: “I cannot be any more proud of him.”
Read more: Aston Merrygold has unfair Strictly advantage says a source
Aston is also friends with another new Strictly contestant, The Saturdays singer Mollie King.
The singer was with JLS for five years before they announced their split on 22 December 2013. He went on to release solo tracks including Get Stupid.