Strictly Come Dancing star Tasha Ghouri has hit back at “fix” claims after fans of the BBC show accused her of having an advantage over the other contestants due to her previous professional dance experience.

The 26-year-old model, who met her boyfriend Andrew Le Page on Love Island, was a professional dancer – but she insists her experience is nothing like what she will be learning on Strictly. The show is set to launch this Saturday and among the celebrities taking part are former TOWIE lothario Pete Wicks, Olympian Sam Quek MBE, actors Shayne Ward and Jamie Borthwick, presenter Nick Knowles, JLS star JB Gill.

Defending her place in the ballroom, Tasha insisted her commercial dance experience doesn’t give her any advantage. And she said she will have to “strip down and relearn” to dance while also “relearn muscle memory” on Strictly.

The model said she will have to work hard on Strictly despite having dance experience ( 
Image:
BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Tasha at the ‘Dirty Dancing’ On Stage 2023 Gala Performance at Dominion Theatre in London in January 2023 ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
She told The Sun: “When you’re in the studio, the glitterballs and the ballroom floor it’s like a whole new world. Commercial dance is very different to ballroom dance and Latin, I’m still having to strip down and relearn, even walking in cha cha step is weird to me.

“Turning your feet out and leading with your hips, I’m having to relearn muscle memory so that’s the hard part. Even letting a man take the lead is a lot.” It comes days after Tasha shared footage of her boyfriend’s reaction to finding out who she’s been partnered with for the show. The video showed Tasha beaming as she ran into a garden and Andrew was then seen jumping up excitedly. He was subsequently seen with his hands over his face and his mouth open, before further expressing his excitement.

Over the footage, Tasha wrote: “POV: When you tell your bf who your Strictly partner is.” The video was itself set to the introduction to Lady Gaga’s song Poker Face. Tasha simply put emojis depicting someone dancing as the caption.

Tasha met her boyfriend Andrew Le Page on Love Island ( 
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Fans took to the comment section to share their thoughts, with several of her followers speculating that she may be partnered with Aljaž Škorjanec. Others expressed hope that Tasha gets to dance with Johannes Radebe instead.

She was also met with supportive messages ahead of her stint on the show. One fan told her: “You [are] going to do so amazing!” Another said: “Might be the first time I watch Strictly.” A third wrote: “Sooo excited to find out and watch you live your dream life.” Someone else reacted to the post: “Can’t wait to see team Tasha take to the dance floor.”

 

Tasha’s partner has yet to be officially announced but just last week it was reported that she has been paired up with returning professional dancer Aljaž, 34. He joined Strictly back in 2013 but was absent from the last two series, after having previously left the long-running BBC show in 2022.

The former islander was unveiled as a contestant on the new series of Strictly just last month. She said in a statement: “Pinch me, I can’t believe I’m going to be on [Strictly]! I’ve been watching the show since I was little – it’s a firm Ghouri family favourite – so this is a total dream come true. I know it’s going to be an unforgettable experience and I hope to represent and make everyone proud out on that dancefloor.”