The former Emmerdale star won the 2019 series with Oti Mabuse and he’s enjoyed watching celebrities improve across the latest series – but said there’s one dancer that stands out.

Strictly Come Dancing champion Kelvin Fletcher has praised the celebrity he believes “stands out” among this year’s batch of dancers.

Just seven pairs remain on the BBC show after opera singer Wynne Evans and Katya Jones were eliminated after finding themselves in the dance-off with athlete and Gladiator Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe.

Kelvin Fletcher has been among the millions of viewers every week watching the celebrities take to the dance floor while dancing with his children. The former Emmerdale star won the 2019 series with Oti Mabuse and he’s enjoyed watching celebrities’ moves across the latest series – but said there’s one dancer that stands out.

Speaking on behalf of whichbingo, Kelvin was keen to praise comedian Chris McCausland for his performances across the series.

The star, who scored a personal best of 37 in the previous week, is the competition’s first-ever visually impaired contestant, has inspired and won the hearts of the nation and emerged as a favourite to win the title.

Speaking about Chris, said: “I think for me, genuinely, it’s not, if I dare say it’s not about the winner, as an as a viewer, I love to see people who would genuinely love what they’re doing and I think Chris stands out when he’s dancing.

Oti Mabuse and Kelvin Fletcher won the 2019 edition of Strictly Come Dancing ( 

Image:

BBC/Guy Levy)

“He looks like he loves to dance and then you add that what he must be going through, the challenge he must face to do that as a person who can’t see, I can’t begin to think the challenges that he faces.

“Because all the challenges I face, and everybody else, in that sense, because it’s tough, it’s gruelling, you’re doing things that you’ve never done before, and you can’t do it, and we try and do it, and the pressure that the nerves, the excitement, the joy, all these emotions.

“He’s the one person I enjoy – I like watching everybody, but he’s the one person I sit back and think he absolutely loves that moment.

“I’m sure he’s nervous, and I’m sure he’s doubting himself, but when that music starts and you can’t help but think, ‘go – go on lad!’ And that’s the feeling it gives me.”

Praising Chris further, he continued: “I think he personifies that show, and what that show is about. It’s an accepting, inclusive show that just celebrates different personalities, different walks of life, different people, and it’s a level playing field in a sense of, there’s your song, there’s a few techniques, there’s a few rules that you have to do.

Strictly Come Dancing Dianne and Chris have been praised by judges and viewers

“It’s just a chance to go out there and do some dancing and express yourself.

When pushed to pick a winner, he said: “I don’t know. This is the thing. I think they’re all in the running, aren’t they?

“I’m not too sure the bookies have as a favourite – I don’t know if I was a favourite! I’m not too sure who the favourites are.

“I think it will be exciting to see who’s lifting that Glitterball at the end.”

He added: “Maybe I’ve got an eye for it to work out who’s going to win, as an ex-winner, but you never know. I guess maybe that’s the beauty of the show. It’s complete unknown.

“And that’s what’s exciting. I think for me, genuinely, it’s not, if I dare say it’s not about the winner and as a viewer, I love to see people who would genuinely love what they’re doing.”

Comedian Chris McCausland is currently odds on to win the series, with Sarah Hadland and Tasha Ghouri following.