Strictly Come Dancing star Ashley Roberts fears a public backlash after being in the bottom two as celebs say ‘justice has been served’
ASHLEY ROBERTS fears a “public backlash” over her dance experience.
The former Pussycat Doll, found herself in Strictly’s bottom two at the weekend.
And despite being joint second on the leaderboard before the public vote, she only narrowly escaped elimination on Sunday— with cricket hero Graeme Swann, 39, getting the boot instead.
Now Ashley, 37, is worried viewers of the BBC One dance show have turned against her after realising how good a dancer she is.
A show source said: “She is worried a public backlash will see her exit the competition despite being an early favourite to win.
“Ashley was incredibly shaken to be in the bottom two and was upset her popularity had gone after failing to secure public votes.
“She was seen being comforted by friends backstage.”
But while Ashley, paired with dancer Pasha Kovalev, 38, was concerned, some of her celebrity peers were less friendly.
The source added: “Others left in the competition talked about justice being served after her former dance experience was brought up again this week.
“Some of the celebrities feel Ashley has an unfair advantage and it’s about time the public were reminded of that.
“They feel she has sailed through the competition on an uneven playing field.
“The knives are out. Instead of consoling her, the professionals and celebrities celebrated this coming to light and affecting the voting this way.”
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Ashley, seven years in Pussycat Dolls, was originally in a burlesque dance troupe.
She is through to Saturday’s quarter final and faces competition from Steps singer Faye Tozer, 43, YouTuber Joe Sugg, 27, and documentary maker Stacey Dooley, 31.
Mix snub Cowell
POP superstars Little Mix have snubbed former boss Simon Cowell and The X Factor by performing on rival show Strictly Come Dancing instead.
Earlier this month, Simon, 59, told The Sun the girl group would perform in the ITV show’s grand final on Saturday.
But last Saturday the former X Factor winners — Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards, both 25, and Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, both 27 — pre-recorded a performance for Strictly’s December 9 show.
The girls recently split from Cowell’s record label Syco after seven years.
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