Strictly's Ed Balls Speaks Out: Pros "Crossed a Line", Says Former Contestant

Former "Strictly Come Dancing" contestant and now "Good Morning Britain" presenter Ed Balls has spoken out about the recent controversies surrounding the BBC dance competition, claiming that some professional dancers have "crossed a line" in their treatment of celebrities.

During a discussion on "Good Morning Britain" with fellow presenter Kate Garraway and former "Strictly" pro Erin Boag, Balls shared his perspective on the decision to introduce chaperones in rehearsal spaces following several complaints from celebrities.

"We were alone a good half the time," Balls revealed, highlighting the intense nature of the rehearsals. He went on to explain that celebrities need their partners to be tough and resilient, as that's the only way they can learn. However, he drew a line between being challenging and being unsupportive.

"When you get it wrong, you need to be motivated. It feels as though, in a couple of instances – we don't know how many, but a small number – they've crossed a line," Balls stated. He added that the difficulty of the show had escalated from demanding to intolerable. "It's gone from being tough to being unsupportive and even worse, that's the problem, but for us, that never happened."

Erin Boag, who has been a professional dancer on "Strictly" for 17 years, acknowledged the gruelling nature of the competition. "You are exhausted, you are pushed beyond your limits," she said, pointing out the mental strain of preparing a new dance every week in front of millions of viewers. "We have a certain amount of hours and days to get ready to go back every week with a different dance, in front of a nation."

Boag concluded by reflecting on the intensity required by "Strictly". "So, everybody is under pressure, that sort of makes the show. If it was easy, it's not great viewing, is it?" she said. "There is that added pressure, and it is that mental side of things, we're not just their partners, we're sort of their counsellors."

The recent controversy surrounding "Strictly" has been fuelled by accusations from last season's contestant Amanda Abbington against her dance partner Giovanni Pernice. Additionally, Graziano Di Prima was dropped from the line-up after a video of his behaviour with celebrity partner Zara McDermott came to light.

With the new series set to premiere this autumn, the cast is being revealed gradually. Confirmed participants include Chris McCausland, JB Gill, Wynne Evans, Toyah Willcox, and Dr Punam Krishan. The latest additions to the "Strictly" dance floor, Tasha Ghouri and Pete Wicks, were announced on a radio programme on Wednesday morning.

"Good Morning Britain" airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.