Strictly winner admits judges criticism can be 'destroying' in candid confession
EXCLUSIVE: TV presenter Ore Oduba, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, has opened up on what it is really like to face the judges on the BBC dance show.
Strictly Come Dancing: Joanne Clifton dances with Ore Oduba
Former Strictly champ Ore Oduba has opened up about what it is realy like to face the judges on the beloved BBC dance competition.
The TV presenter famously lifted the Strictly Come Dancing glitterball back in 2016 with his pro partner Joanne Clifton after wowing fans with his impressive dance moves.
Throughout the show's 20-year stint, it's fair to say the four Strictly judges - Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke - are known for not mincing their words on the BBC show.
Now, the West End star has revealed what it is like to face the intense criticism from the star-studded judging pannel each week as this year's contestants say goodbye to the fake tan and sequins following last night's final (December 14).
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk - on behalf of SlotsCalendar - Ore explained how their comments greatly affect the competition.
He told us: "The stakes are huge because the audience listen to the judges. They really know what they're talking about. And there's something so great about the way that Strictly still works - the marks are split between the judges scores and the audience vote.
"That gives you a really good idea of where this person should be in the competition. So if you're going to get a good score, it's going to really help you [by getting good remarks]. I think that's what's important there is that authenticity with the scoring system.
"That means even if you haven't got 10 million followers, you've still got a good chance. You are doing well in the dancing competition. That you that you've got a chance of progressing," he explained.
The dad-of-two went on to share how important it was to get good feedback after pushing himself in the studio training each week.
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He went on: "You are comparing and putting yourself out there to the people that know about what you do the most, so you just hang on every word going, 'Please say I did something right, because I put my body on the line this week'.
"What you can't see behind all of those gorgeous outfits is how much strapping that they've got underneath - shoulders being connected with tape and [people] jacked up an ibuprofen and the tears wiped away before they walked down the stairs.
"And so, you're standing there hoping, 'Was it okay? Because I'm kind of broken, and I completely need a break'. If it doesn't go right, it's absolutely destroying. Because you also know that the audience are listening, and that's going to affect your vote."
While admitting that harsh comments can also affect contestants psychologically Ore did confess that he was always looking for something constructive from them.
"From a critical point of view for me I want to be able to go away with something for next week," he said. "'Okay, they've literally given me constructive criticism. I can use that to be better'."
Ore Odube was speaking on behalf of SlotsCalendar.
