'Amy Dowden needs to quit Strictly habit - it will annoy viewers,' says ex pro

Despite initial fears about the pairing from some viewers, Amy Dowden and her Strictly Come Dancing partner Thomas Skinner have been getting on famously.

Former Apprentice star Thomas even took Amy to his beloved Dino's for a slap up breakfast before they headed to training this week.

The pair will be hoping to win over viewers this weekend ahead of the first dance-off on the competition that will see one couple sent home. They found themselves dwindling at the bottom of the leaderboard last week after their Pasa Doble received 16 points from the judges.

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Some critics on X branded Thomas' performance 'the worst' of the night, while other fans felt Thomas 'did well' considering he was given a 'difficult' dance for a total beginner.

Now giving his say on the dances so far, from professional dancer - and Strictly winner - Brendan Cole says it's Amy who could spell trouble for the Essex businessman.

“Thomas Skinner has done enough to save himself ahead of next week, he’s getting attention – but that’s down to personality, not dancing," says Brendan. "People are curious to see what he’ll do next, because he’s a bit out there, not your typical Strictly contestant, and that makes him interesting.

“But Amy [Dowden] is going to have to step up with the choreography. She also needs to stop screaming into the microphone at the end of a routine – that’s going to really annoy viewers. If you’ve just delivered an average dance, you can’t then scream into the mic, it just doesn’t come across well," critiqued Brendan.

At the end of their week one Pasa Doble, Amy seem thrilled with how the routine had gone as she gave a bellowing cry as the band finished playing.

Despite Amy's obvious delight, she and Thomas found themselves on the receiving end of some harsh critiques and were left third from the bottom of the judges' leader board - with only presenter Ross King and rugby star Chris Robshaw beneath them.

Revealing who he thinks is the most in danger of the trio, Brendan told the Mirror: "It felt like Chris [Robshaw] had simply been told what to do, and he went out and did exactly that. But on Strictly, you must be more than that. You need to understand the purpose of the performance and then go out and really deliver it."

He went on: “Some contestants absolutely did that, and some didn’t – and unfortunately, he was one who didn’t. Being on first didn’t help either. At that point in the evening, a lot of viewers are not fully settled in. So, all in all, he’s very much in danger.”

On the other end of the scale, Brendan, speaking for Sky Vegas, says former footballer Karen Carney is clearly one to watch this year - describing her as 'so special.'

The former Strictly champion said: "She’s a footballer – football’s a tough, physical sport, with a reputation for being rough. It’s watched by everyone – it’s an everybody sport. And Karen brings that grit and accessibility with her. But then you see her on the dancefloor transforming into something elegant and beautiful – and that contrast is stunning. That’s what we’re not expecting, and that’s what makes her journey so exciting.”