Strictly Come Dancing 2024 star is ‘blocking out noise’ after fan complaints

Every year when Strictly Come Dancing announces their line-up, there are usually two complaints.

The first is the classic ‘never heard of them’, and the second common criticism is a celebrity’s dance experience… and this year, Tasha Ghouri is the target for the grievances after West End star Layton Williams was the focus in 2023.

After the former Love Island star was announced as being part of the cast, it didn’t take long for people to discover her previous dance career, which has included dancing in the music video for More Than Words by Sleepwalkers featuring MNEK. Some people have decided that this gives Tasha an ‘unfair advantage’.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk and other media ahead of the 2024 launch of the BBC series, the 25-year-old issued a defiant response to everyone who has an issue with her being a part of the line-up.

‘I’m doing the show for me, for a positive experience. I’ve got to block out that noise,’ she said.

‘Luckily I’ve been in the industry for two years, I’ve grown so much stronger.’

Explaining that she’s experienced negativity from her time on Love Island, she continued: ‘This is for me, it’s my dream, it’s something I’ve dreamt of for so long. I’m doing this for me, my family, my partner.’

Tasha previously responded to the complaints on Instagram, explaining how her past dance experience is very different to the ballroom dances that she’s going to learn on the show with her pro partner.

‘I’ve not danced for quite a few years, since Love Island my career is so different,’ she said at the time.

‘It’s such a different dance style, I may actually not be good at it, like ballet, I’m not good at ballet.

‘I’m trained in commercial street style. It’s going to be very hard but I’m excited for a challenge.’

Trained dancer Tasha also already has her eye on one professional – Johannes Radebe – who she danced with at a special event to celebrate the opening of Meadows Community Centre in Cambridge.

The complaints began almost instantly after the official Instagram page for Strictly shared an image of Tasha to confirm her inclusion after she first unveiled herself on Kiss Breakfast.

While there were many messages of support including Vicky Pattison who said: ‘She’s going to be amazing. Winner!!! I’ve called it,’ there were also some questioning her experience.

‘Isn’t she a professional dancer in her own right?’ asked ElleKaye9t. LiliaGracePatchett wrote similarly: ‘Love her but a professional dancer?’

Jojoleelee9393 added: ‘She’ll likely pick up the routines quicker, isn’t that literally the job of a professional dancer. You think her and the Go Compare guy are starting on an even footing!’

‘Isn’t this an unfair advantage?’ enquired Keo Ganak.

Others defended her right to be in the competition and pointed out that she’ll still have a lot to learn.

‘Please all the “professional dancer” comments. Ballroom and Latin is a complete different skill to be learnt,’ stated MalibuLover73.

Tasha found fame on the eighth season of Love Island and made history as the first deaf contestant.

She reached the final with her boyfriend Andrew Le Page, and the two have recently celebrated their second anniversary.

Before Love Island, she garnered attention when she modelled earrings for Asos, proudly showing her cochlear implant.

Tasha has continued to use her voice to speak about being part of the deaf community including on her podcast Superpowers, on viral social media videos, and in her book, Hits Different.

As she takes on her next challenge, Tasha can turn to Rose Ayling-Ellis, who won Strictly in 2021, for advice.

Tasha previously revealed Rose ‘had her back’ when she experienced ableism from some viewers of the ITV2 dating show.

‘Rose did have my back as well, which was amazing. I saw that she wrote a little piece about me and it was so lovely that she stepped in and we have been messaging on Instagram.

‘I said, “Thank you for having my back. It meant a lot”,’ she told Metro.co.uk.

‘I looked up to Rose, on Strictly last year [and told her], that was just amazing that you did that and absolutely killed it. It’s great that she reached out, I reached out, and we’re both in it together, because I’ve never experienced ableism before, so it was my first time experiencing it coming out of the villa. 

‘Rose said, “If you ever want to chat, I’m here”. It’s nice that we’ve got that connection.’

That’s not her only connection to the series, as she is said to have previously dated Giovanni Pernice, who has left the show amid an ongoing investigation.

While there are many fans of Strictly who are excited for the new series and believe that the line-up has a lot of potential, others admitted that they felt ‘underwhelmed’ by the casting this year.

The cast includes the likes of Tasha, JLS singer JB Gill, comedian Chris McCausland, opera singer (and the Go Compare advert man) Wynne Evans, TV doctor Punam Krishan, 80s chart-topper Toyah Willcox, The Only Way is Essex alumni Pete Wicks, X Factor winner Shayne Ward and actress Sarah Hadland.

One social media user called LewisPringle claimed that the series was ‘scraping the barrel’, while another named LucasMichael brutally described the line-up as the ‘worst to ever exist’.

Some stated that in their view, they expected the line-up to perhaps include some more high-profile names, considering it is the 20th anniversary.

Amongst the complaints, viewers have also said they have never heard of BBC Morning Live contributor Dr Punam and questioned why there are two reality stars when usually the programme avoids having multiple in the lineup.

Others have also remarked that the professional dancers, such as Dianne Buswell and Aljaž Škorjanec, are more famous than their potential partners.

Dr Marie Allitt said: ‘For the last few years, when they’ve announced the Strictly line-up I’ve thought “Haven’t they already done it?” (Plus a smattering of “who?” of course). It may be time for it to take a break after all.’

Some fans have shared their theory that the line-up is due to the recent controversy surrounding the series.

There have been allegations made against some of the show’s pro dancers. Amanda Abbington has called Giovanni Pernice’s training methods ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’ and said she complained over concerns he ‘could do that to other people’. He has denied the accusations against him.

Graziano Di Prima has also stepped down amid accusations he ‘kicked and hit’ Zara McDermott. The statements from the former contestants led to more people coming forward claiming that they also had negative experiences, including Laura Whitmore, Will Bayley, and Anthony Ogogo.

The BBC programme announced there would be changes in store to further support the welfare of celebrities taking part, including chaperones at every rehearsal and the director-general Tim Davie apologised to anyone who didn’t have a ‘wholly positive’ time on the show.

However, some viewers don’t think that was enough to secure ‘bigger celebrities’.

‘This #Strictly line up so far is really giving last minute replacements of bigger celebrities who have dropped out because of all the allegations……’ wrote Alexanderls3 on X.

AliceJones added: ‘Is it unkind to think perhaps quite a few high profile people have dropped out of Strictly this year….? The line-up has the unmistakable feel of a b-list.’

Nonetheless, when they are in their living rooms on Saturday nights, viewers might end up loving the choices of celebrities in the line-up.

Who knows… perhaps the TV star who you could’ve walked past in the street just weeks ago is now making you cry with their couple’s choice routine and the accompanying emotional VT.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday at 7:20pm.

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