Strictly professional says some contestants 'need to be shouted at' in rehearsals

Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Flavia Cacace has admitted that some contestants 'need to be shouted at' during rehearsals. The dancer, 45, worked on the BBC favourite from 2006 and put celebrities like Jimmy Tarbuck, former Coronation Street star Craig Kelly and astrologer Russell Grant through their paces in the ballroom.

In 2012, Flavia quit the programme, which in recent years has come under fire following misconduct claims to a shock drug scandal and an arrest, after she won with gymnast Louis Smith but as she reflected on her TV fame, she admitted that it was easy to fee 'deflated' as professional when the goal is to get the celebrity to be the best they can be.

This year's edition has just kicked off with famous faces like Love Island's Amber Davies, Geordie Shore legend Vicky Pattison and Neighbours star Stefan Dennis all showing off their footwork for judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse, and Flavia issued a warning to the contestants all vying for the Glitterball Trophy this time around.

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She said: "For the contestants, my advice would always be to go into it with really open eyes. You’ve got to have a clear understanding of what the commitment is and what the show is asking of you.

"When I was on the show, especially in the earlier days, it wasn’t uncommon to get a partner who didn’t really know what was expected of them. Some had other work commitments and it was a shock. As a pro, you can feel deflated – because you want them to give 110%. It doesn’t matter how good they are or what the results are, but they have to give it their all."

During a chat with the Daily Star, she added: "You’ve got to change the way you teach for every celebrity. Some people need more care, patience and understanding. Others need to be shouted at and pushed to their limit. There isn’t one way that fits everybody, so you have to learn together.

"Strictly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But you’ve got to be ready to work harder than you’ve ever worked before."

Flavia married EastEnders' Jimi Mistry after being partnered on Strictly and in 2021, they moved to Devon to grow vegetables and farm animals. Earlier this year, Flavia has revealed why she left the dancing world and made a huge lifestyle change.

Appearing on ITV's Lorraine, Flavia said: "I never retired, I just needed a break. I toured for eight years and when me and Vincent started touring, we would do seven, eight shows a week in each venue. We did that for eight years - I stopped in 2018, I was just exhausted.

It was the body and the brain, it's both things - and obviously, I'd been living out of a suitcase, from hotel to hotel. I needed that break and Covid came and it was one of those things where we said, 'Let's just go to the countryside.'"

She added that she has "a real connection and affinity with animals" and has been on the farm with Jimi for five years.

Flavia made it to the final with EastEnders star Matt Di Angelo back in 2007 and landed in second place, while she eventually won the show with Olympic gymnast Louis Smith in her final series.

Matt and Flavia began a romantic relationship shortly after their time on Strictly, with the pair dating until 2010.

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