Ashley Roberts has hit back at her critics after joining Strictly Come Dancing.
Ashley was confirmed as one of this year’s celebs this month (Friday 17th August) on BBC Radio 2.
Ashley is best known as part of girl group the Pussycat Dolls and their hits Don’t Cha and I Don’t Need A Man. She’s also previously appeared on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and was a judge on Dancing On Ice.
Ashley says she was encouraged to take part by pals who had also done the show: “Daisy Lowe loved it, Flacky [Caroline Flack] said it was one of her favourite projects. Pixie [Lott] and Laura [Whitmore] loved it! So I’m excited to dive into my own experience.”
She added: “I am beyond excited and grateful to be part of the Strictly family! I’m going to put my heart and soul into this new adventure and can’t wait to have fun with the team! Bring on the sequins, glitz and glamour!”
However some fans of the BBC One show reckon she’s far too ‘experienced’ for the dance contest.
Many pointed out her past dance work with the Pussycat Dolls plus her judging stint on Dancing On Ice as examples.
One Strictly viewer posted on Twitter: “Putting Ashley Roberts on @bbcstrictly is like putting Jamie Oliver on master chef! #notfair”
But hitting back, Ashley insisted on Radio 2: “The Latin and Ballroom world is foreign to me.”
She also added to the Daily Mail newspaper: “Dance experience? I mean if there’s booty popping in ballroom maybe that will, but I don’t think there is.”
“It’ll feel very foreign to my body, because I’m used to a little bit of like booty popping with the dolls!”
Also confirmed for the cast of Strictly 2018 are BBC newsreader Kate Silverton, comic Seann Walsh, documentary maker Stacey Dooley, TV doctor Dr Ranj, Cricketer Graeme Swann, radio DJ and TV host Vick Hope, YouTube vlogger Joe Sugg, Steps singer Faye Tozer, actor Danny John-Jules and Katie Piper on this year’s confirmed cast.
Strictly Come Dancing launches on BBC One on September 8 with its red carpet launch show.
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