Former 'Strictly Come Dancing' judge Arlene Phillips has criticised actress Ali Bastian for failing to win over the voting public.
Bastian and dance partner Brian Fortuna were voted off the show on Saturday night missing next week’s final which will see sports journalist Chris Hollins and soap actor Ricky Whittle battle it out for the coveted glitterball.
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Speaking in The Sun, Phillips said Bastian had "the passion of a pomegranate" on the dancefloor with partner Fortuna with whom she has been romantically linked in the tabloids.
She said "Whatever was speculated about Ali and Brian's chemistry off the show, on the floor their dancing lacked passion."
Speaking about the pair’s Argentine tango, she said "It's a dance of passion and Ali didn't grip the audience. Ali is marshmallow and in this dance you need to be peanut brittle."
Phillips also said she feared actor Ricky Whittle would not win the show saying "Ricky's downfall is his dead eyes. He is the deserving winner but he has to connect with the audience and show how much he wants to win the show - otherwise Chris will wipe the floor with him."
Phillips was at the centre of an ageism row when she was replaced on the show’s judging panel by former winner Alesha Dixon.
