{"id":8747,"date":"2021-12-15T15:59:24","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T14:59:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1537579"},"modified":"2021-12-15T16:44:29","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T15:44:29","slug":"aj-odudu-is-the-best-dancer-heading-into-strictly-final-says-ian-waite","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/aj-odudu-is-the-best-dancer-heading-into-strictly-final-says-ian-waite\/","title":{"rendered":"AJ Odudu is \u201cthe best dancer\u201d heading into Strictly final, says Ian Waite"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\"><\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By Minnie Wright\n                \t\t<\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Wednesday, 15 December 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p><hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>Strictly Come Dancing 2021 is down to its last three contestants as we prepare for Saturday\u2019s final.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/entertainment\/aj-odudu-strictly-come-dancing-2021-contestant\/&quot;\">AJ Odudu<\/a>, Rose Ayling-Ellis and John Whaite are set to perform for the viewers\u2019 votes once more this weekend as they give it their all to scoop the Glitterball trophy.<\/p>\n<p>But <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/&quot;\">RadioTimes.com<\/a>\u2018s <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/entertainment\/talent-shows\/strictly-come-dancing-2021-start-date-news\/&quot;\">Strictly Come Dancing<\/a> columnist Ian Waite thinks one competitor stands out from the rest when it comes to dance ability: <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/entertainment\/strictly-aj-odudu-injury-final-newsupdate\/&quot;\">AJ, who is currently under advice to rest her foot after suffering an injury<\/a> days before the final.<\/p>\n<p>In last week\u2019s <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/entertainment\/strictly-ian-waite-rose-aj-exclusive\/&quot;\">The Waite List<\/a>, he explained that he reckoned the presenter was the best dancer of the bunch \u2013 but he still couldn\u2019t call the winner.<\/p>\n<div class=\"&quot;image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--aspect=\"\" style=\"&quot;padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=354%2C236&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=354%2C236&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=404%2C269&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=404%2C269&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=407%2C271&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=407%2C271&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=555%2C370&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=555%2C370&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><img class=\"&quot;wp-image-1537401\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2021\/12\/AJ-Odudu-Strictly-70d2edb.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" width=\"&quot;620&quot;\" height=\"&quot;413&quot;\" alt=\"&quot;AJ\" odudu=\"\" and=\"\" kai=\"\" widdrington=\"\" on=\"\" strictly=\"\" title=\"&quot;AJ-Odudu-Strictly&quot;\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> <div class=\"&quot;caption-hold&quot;\"> <span class=\"&quot;im-image-caption&quot;\"> <i>BBC<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cFor me, AJ is the best dancer,\u201d he said. \u201cRose is the most endearing and the most popular, and I think John and Johannes [Radebe] have the best chemistry.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo for me, it\u2019s a really difficult one [to predict] because they all have so much to offer.\u201d<\/p> <p>Ian, who was a professional dancer on Strictly from 2004 until 2010, also praised AJ\u2019s performances in the semi-final, calling her Quickstep \u201csimply stunning\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Of her second routine, a Rumba with partner Kai Widdrington, he added: \u201cAnother stunning dance from these two, although I would like to have seen more rotation in the hip to create a more earthy-looking Rumba.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Last night (14th December), it was revealed AJ has suffered an injury to her foot. She has had a scan and has been advised to rest it in the hopes of being fit enough to perform on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>Read <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/entertainment\/strictly-come-dancing-ian-waite-final-exclusive\/&quot;\">Ian\u2019s latest column, The Waite List<\/a>, for all his thoughts ahead of the final.<\/p>\n<p><em>Additional reporting by Lauren Morris.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Strictly Come Dancing final airs Saturday at 7pm on BBC One. If you\u2019re looking for something else to watch, check out our <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/tv-listings\/&quot;\">TV Guide<\/a>. Visit our <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/entertainment\/&quot;\">Entertainment<\/a> hub for all the latest news.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b>This year\u2019s\u00a0<a title=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/when-does-the-radio-times-christmas-issue-go-on-sale-3\/&quot;\" href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/when-does-the-radio-times-christmas-issue-go-on-sale-3\/&quot;\" target=\"&quot;_blank&quot;\" rel=\"&quot;noopener noopener noreferrer\" noreferrer=\"\" data-auth=\"&quot;NotApplicable&quot;\" data-linkindex=\"&quot;0&quot;\">Radio Times Christmas double issue<\/a>\u00a0is on sale now, featuring two weeks of TV, film and radio listings, reviews, features and interviews with the stars.<\/b><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Minnie Wright Published: Wednesday, 15 December 2021 at 12:00 am Strictly Come Dancing 2021 is down to its last three contestants as we prepare for Saturday\u2019s final. AJ Odudu, Rose Ayling-Ellis and John Whaite are set to perform for the viewers\u2019 votes once more this weekend as they give it their all to scoop [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":8748,"template":"","categories":[1,5],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/aj-odudu-is-the-best-dancer-heading-into-strictly-final-says-ian-waite.jpg",620,413,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/aj-odudu-is-the-best-dancer-heading-into-strictly-final-says-ian-waite-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/aj-odudu-is-the-best-dancer-heading-into-strictly-final-says-ian-waite-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/aj-odudu-is-the-best-dancer-heading-into-strictly-final-says-ian-waite.jpg",620,413,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/aj-odudu-is-the-best-dancer-heading-into-strictly-final-says-ian-waite.jpg",620,413,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/aj-odudu-is-the-best-dancer-heading-into-strictly-final-says-ian-waite.jpg",620,413,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/aj-odudu-is-the-best-dancer-heading-into-strictly-final-says-ian-waite.jpg",620,413,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Minnie Wright Published: Wednesday, 15 December 2021 at 12:00 am Strictly Come Dancing 2021 is down to its last three contestants as we prepare for Saturday\u2019s final. AJ Odudu, Rose Ayling-Ellis and John Whaite are set to perform for the viewers\u2019 votes once more this weekend as they give it their all to scoop&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/8747"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}