Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood has reignited the show's gender pay debate by saying that head judge Shirley Ballas should be paid "something lower" due to lack of TV experience.
The controversy kicked off when it was revealed last year that ballroom queen Ballas was paid less than her predecessor Len Goodman in her first series as head judge.
Horwood has now weighed in on the debate, telling The Sun newspaper: "The point about this pay thing is, yes, I think women should be paid the same as men.
"That’s for sure. But what would you say to a woman coming in after you’ve been in the job for 15 years when they’ve done absolutely nothing to earn it? I don’t think that’s right.
"For instance Shirley Ballas in that way, you’d expect she would start on something lower because she’s never been on TV before, the show’s been going for 14 years.
"Len Goodman earned a major reputation and put the show on the map like we all did. We all created it from the beginning. And I don’t think it’s comparable.
"Sorry. It just isn’t", he concluded.
Ballas was revealed to be taking on the role in May last year following Goodman's retirement.
Goodman and fellow judge Bruno Tonioli were both in the £200,000 - £250,000 pay bracket when the pay of BBC stars earning more than £150,000 a year was revealed. The show's other judges Horwood and Darcey Bussell got between £150,000 - £200,000.
Meanwhile, former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips also gave her two cents on the pay debate, saying "I do think experience counts."
Appearing on Tuesday's edition of ITV show Lorraine, Phillips said she supported equal pay but that "experience counts". She suggested that Strictly should implement the same policy as West End shows, where pay is increased for every year of experience.
"Craig has been there for a long time and I think he deserves every penny," she added.
Strictly Come Dancing is due to return on BBC One in September.
