Paul Merson dealt huge blow to BBC Strictly hopes just DAYS after being confirmed for line-up
Paul Merson was dealt a huge blow just days after his Strictly announcement
BBC
Strictly Come Dancing finally revealed their full official line-up after weeks of rumours which had fans of the show trying to guess which big-name stars would be taking part in the 20th-anniversary special.
Footballing legend Paul Merson was revealed as one of the final celebrities to be taking part in the BBC spectacular, however, he has already faced a huge blow just weeks ahead of the show starting.
Merson was revealed on Monday night's episode of The One Show and explained: "I don't really worry about it yet until it starts, I am one of them people, I can't be worrying about something that is a month away, but I am sure when it starts I will be nervous there is no doubt about that.
"I have danced three times in my life and they were all at my weddings. I will have a go, 100 per cent. All my career I give it ago, when we played football we played to win so yeah, I will give it a go, it won't be through lack of trying."
However, according to bookmakers SportsCasting, it seems Merson won't get far in the competition as his odds at winning the competition currently stand at 50/1.
DIY SOS star Nick Knowles has been given the same odds of winning, alongside singer Wynne Evans with 40/1 and TV doctor Punam Krishan 33/1.
The full Strictly Come Dancing line-up was announced over the last two weeks
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Currently walking away with the Glitterball trophy with odds of 4/1 is Love Island star Tasha Ghouri - who recently sparked a fix row as the star is already professionally trained.
EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick follows hot on her heels with odds of 5/1, bringing his knowledge from the Christmas Special - which he won alongside partner Nancy Xu - back to the show.
Singer Shayne Ward and JLS star JB Gill have odds of 7/1 to win the series, with the latter being another contestant who has already won the Christmas special of the series, having been partnered with Ola Jordan.
SportsCasting spokesman Andy Newton said of the latest odds: "With the Strictly class of 2024 line-up starting to take shape the oddsmakers have been beavering away pricing up the betting and after his top performance in the Christmas special - it’s EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick that is one of the pre-show favourites.
Paul Merson was revealed as a Strictly contestant on The One Show on Monday night
BBC
"Jamie, who plays Jay in the hit soap, caught the eye of show bosses after scoring a perfect 40 in one of their festive dances and with that experience under his belt looks like a cracking bet at 4/1 to win the 20th anniversary of the show.
"Just ahead of Borthwick in the betting is Love Islander Tasha Ghouri at 4/1. But at slightly higher prices, former hockey star Sam 'Quek-step' could go well at 10/1, while singers JB Gill and Shayne Ward, who are both 7/1, could easily have the 'X Factor' on the dancefloor too."
As well as Merson not having the best odds of winning the series, fans recently picked up on the fact that he was arrested back in 2007 on suspicion of hitting his second wife, Louise.
The 56-year-old publicly fought against his drug, alcohol and gambling addictions, and during his arrest was taken to a police station near his home in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands.
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Some fans have slammed the show for signing Paul Merson after discovering his assault arrest back in 2007
A West Midlands Police spokesman said at the time: "A man aged 35 from Sutton Coldfield was arrested at 11pm on Sunday November 9 following an allegation of assault on a female."
Merson reportedly accepted a caution for assault at the time before being released the next day.
Louise spoke out about his arrest within a few days and told The Daily Mirror: "There are all sorts of things gone on that I'm sure some people would love to know about but it's nothing to do with anyone else.
"I'm not going to say anything and certainly Paul isn't going to utter a word. We have our own problems like anyone else and we're dealing with them. We're still together."
Fans of the show have been left outraged that the broadcaster would cast Merson, due to the ongoing investigation the show is conducting into the behaviour of Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima.
Taking to the official Strictly Instagram account, one fan penned underneath Merson's announcement: "Don't quite feel ok about a guy who has a caution for assaulting his female partner on Strictly!"
"Is this for real??? His past history? The current situation? What are they thinking of? What a waste of OUR money for this," another fumed before a third noted: "Casting a domestic abuser in a year where treatment of women on the show has been front and centre. The casting team need replacing."
"Tone deaf and disappointing," another simply penned before a fifth commented: "How tone-deaf can they get?!"
However, not all were left upset with the show's decision to have him take part, as one supportive viewer and fan expressed: "Mers. Don’t listen to the haters…have fun my old High school peer... Lovely to see a normal guy, who happened to have extraordinary talent, show other ordinary guys, they can give anything a go."
GB News has contacted the BBC for a comment.