Kelly, Cacace hit back at critics

Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Kelly and Flavia Cacace have hit out at their critics on the show.

The duo avoided the dance-off last Saturday, despite finishing joint-bottom of the leaderboard with Ricky Groves and Erin Boag. All four judges complained about Zoe Lucker and Ali Bastian being in the bottom two, with Len Goodman describing the show as a "popularity contest".

Kelly and Cacace, who are performing a cha cha cha this weekend, have argued that their critics are taking the BBC One show too seriously.

"It's just supposed to be a bit of fun," the Coronation Street actor told DS. "If you [took away the public vote] it wouldn't be as interesting. You'd know who the favourites were and know who was going to win. This gives it more spice doesn't it. At the end of the day it's a TV show."

Cacace said: "It's a fun, entertainment family show. We get cards from small children, 5-year-olds who love it and watch it with their grandparents. It's just about everyone enjoying themselves. Dancing is supposed to be fun. That's part of the show, 50% is the judges and 50% is the viewers at home.

"It was sad when Zoe left because she was very good. But that's Strictly, so unless you take away the public vote it's always going to be like that. Only a small percentage of the public have real experience of ballroom. Their opinion is not about ballroom and Latin dancing. It's based on whatever reasons they voted for."

Strictly continues this Saturday at 6.25pm on BBC One.