Judge Rinder Is Already Laying Into His 'Strictly Come Dancing' Competitors

When it was announced Judge Rinder was joining this year’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ line-up, we were obviously expecting fireworks, but we didn’t think they would start quite so soon.

The daytime TV judge, famed for his acid tongue, has already begun laying into his fellow stars, and the series hasn’t even begun yet.

Judge Rinder - real name Robert - has hit out at former Labour MP Ed Balls in an interview with The Sun, sniping: “I’m sure he will be a much better dancer than he was a politician.”

He also had some words about the contestants who already have some dance experience, after it was revealed Will Young has been having lessons for the last 10 years.

“Do I think they’ve got an advantage? Not really. I think the British public can tell, they want people to be good, but they also want to see people improve, I think,” he said.

“They want to see people go on a journey, but if they know how to dance already then all the better for them.

“I don’t want to be a total moron and be just known as the jazz-handed judge,” he added.

Fans of the BBC ballroom show are already anticipating for Robert to clash with judge Craig Revel Horwood, who is known for his honest and frank opinions on the panel.

Robert already lit the flames when he appeared on Scott Mills’ Radio 1 show earlier this week, when he said: “As far as anybody can see I‘m the one who can raise an eyebrow unassisted.”

He also vowed to shame any of his fellow contestants who displayed bad behaviour behind the scenes, adding: “If people are off or mean I will tell everybody. As long as people aren’t diva-ish I should be fine.”

‘Strictly Come Dancing’ kicks off with a special launch show on 3 September on BBC One.

See the full line-up in the gallery below...