Ever since he signed for Strictly Come Dancing, Aston Merrygold has faced accusations he’s got an unfair advantage because of his past dance experience.
After all, he was a member of boyband JLS – where he showed off his back-flipping skills – and served as a judge on Sky 1’s Got To Dance.
You’d think judging other people’s dancing would mean he’s pretty good at his own, right?
Well, not according to Aston.
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Appearing on Loose Women, Aston insisted he has got no advantage on any of the other contestants as he’s never had formal dance training.
He explained: “People assume I’m trained because I danced in a boyband before and stuff like that, but I’d never stepped into a dance class or had a teacher before.
“I just used to watch Michael Jackson or Justin Timberlake music videos and enjoy it.
“I was lucky enough to have it become part of my career but going into Strictly, I was like, ‘I’m actually having someone put me in the right position’.”
Aston, who is paired with pro dancer Janette Manrara, said: “Strictly has been amazing. Everyone goes, ‘You’ll have such a journey’ and honestly, they weren’t lying.
“It gets better every week and you get more comfortable with certain dance routines.
“When you’re in the hold for the first time it’s odd but it gets so much fun.”
Aston said that while the nerves strike each week even as he becomes more comfortable on the dance floor, by the time the Saturday comes around he’s fine.
“I think the nerves are the same each week because on the Monday you don’t know the routine,” he said.
“But by Friday, the Saturday morning, you feel better and think, ‘I actually do love this!’
“But it’s testing.”
Aston and JLS famously became household names when they finished in second place on the fifth series of X Factor back in 2008.
But Aston said Strictly’s a whole new ball game.
“When I did X Factor, it was so different then to what it is now. I would really, really want to listen to what Simon and Cheryl were saying, take it all in, whereas on Strictly, you care about what they’re saying but it goes so fast.
“By the time you’re standing in front of the judges I can’t remember what they said!
“For me [there is more pressure on Strictly] because other than having Janette, I’m on my own.
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“On X Factor I had the boys and you can have an off day, but now you always have to be on.”
Aston and Janette scored 24 out of 30 for their Waltz last weekend and will tackle the Paso Doble for this weekend’s Halloween special.