MUCH speculation surrounds the absence of Paul Merson from the Strictly Come Dancing final at the weekend, after it was claimed that his no-show was due to illness.
But now sources suggest that the former footballer made a conscious decision to boycott the live final, because he didn’t enjoy his time on the BBC show.
The ex-arsenal ace and his partner Karen Hauer, were voted off in week four, after their dance off and samba with JLS singer, JB Gill.
Player-turned-pundit Paul, 56, was said to have contacted BBC bosses to say that he wouldn’t be turning out for the final.
A Strictly spokesperson said: “Paul is unwell today unfortunately. He will be very much missed and is sad he couldn’t make it.”
During the final, he sent his apologies to the viewers through a video link and dance partner Karen held a photo of him before the group dance.
But commentators on digital spy forums are unconvinced by the excuse and suggest that Paul wasn’t in fact best pleased with his Strictly experience.
One person noted: “Any theories as to why Paul Merson wasn’t there? He seemed to go out on good terms, even though he had been frustrated to have been set up for ridicule with comedy dances in the first couple of weeks.”
Another viewer felt that he was irritable in the ballroom.
“I never felt he was ‘comfortable’ on the dance floor so probably felt a talking head section was enough to honour the contract.”
Indeed Paul often seemed fed up with the harsh criticism served up by judge Craig Revel Horwood, as he once snapped after the judges scores. “I should take Craig on the pitch for a kickaround.”
Earlier in the competition, the former England player had expressed frustration at being given multiple comedy routines.
Thus far he had performed to football anthem Vindaloo, danced around a fake barbecue to Pitball’s Fireball and ridden giant plastic horses.
But when he gained his highest score for his classic top hat and tails quickstep in week 3, Paul explained that he’d signed up to be taken seriously.
Appearing on Striclty spin off show It Takes Two, he said: “”It was amazing just to get a nice dance.
“Obviously a barbecue and Vindaloo and Football’s Coming Home and looking like someone who works on a ship… yeah, it was nice to dance.
“I thought Karen deserved that as well, to be fair to her.”
Then the dad-of-three hit out at show bosses for setting him up as the joke act. He said of their quickstep:
“”I felt more comfortable. It was just nice.
“When I first took up the chance to come on the show, this was what I thought it would be roughly. Do you know what I mean?”
“It was nice to get one of those dances in. Before, I just thought of Fred Astaire and I couldn’t see him dancing to Vindaloo.”
But the 56-year-old’s fate was sealed in week 4 after he went head to head in a dance off with show favourite JB Gill and his professional partner at that time, Amy Dowden.
Audience members were left in shock at the news that JB, one of the competitions strongest dancers who went on to make the final, should be in the bottom two.
Indeed Paul, who was dancing the notoriously tricky Samba to Rose Royce’s song carwash, seemed to have the odds staked against him, having survived the dance off against Toyah Wilcox in week one.
All four judges revealed they were in agreement in choosing to keep JB and axe sports star Paul following the dance-off.
In his exit speech, Paul had nothing but praise for the show: ““It’s been really good.
“For anybody I talk to, I would say you’ve got to go on this show. It’s amazing – everybody.”
Then he said of his pro partner Karen: “She’s been amazing, absolutely amazing and I couldn’t wish for a better coach. I’ve loved every minute of it.”
