Joe Calzaghe has claimed that the judges comments on Strictly Come Dancing are a form of bullying.

The boxing champion competed on the BBC reality TV series in 2009 and was partnered by his now girlfriend Kristina Rihanoff. He had two left feet and no timing and was regularly criticised by the panel on the weekly Saturday night show.

Hitting out at Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and Alesha Dixon and their treatment of him during his five week stint, Joe told The Daily Mail:

“Strictly was a form of bullying. It’s part of the pantomime and who better to pick on than a world champion? I kept my composure but to me it was destructive criticism, not constructive.

“Len Goodman was great. [He is] the one guy on that panel who actually knows what he’s talking about.”

Contrary to popular belief, Joe claims that he did try hard on the show and dreaded the weekend performances. He added:

‘I tried so hard to be good at it, but I struggled.’

‘Come Saturday night I just froze. I’ve never been so nervous in my life. I felt sick with nerves. It was easier to go in the boxing ring than the dance floor and that’s the honest to God truth.’

But something good did come from the experience. Joe continued:

‘I’m still happy I did it because I met Kristina. I fancied her from the start. We began dating about the second or third week of the show, but we’d been dancing together six weeks before that. You’re with each other every day, training five or six hours a day, then I’d take her for something to eat or a coffee.

‘We had a lot in common. She started dancing at a young age and I started boxing at nine. We got on really, really well as friends so it was cool when we just gelled. I really wanted to do well for her. She was so frustrated with me because I was so much better in training.

‘Come the live show and she’d say, “Oh Joe, come back to me. What’s wrong?” She could see the nerves kick in. I’d stiffen up and become scared. But that’s what happens when you’re petrified. I was so in control of what I did in my world – the fight. So cool. So calm. Suddenly you’re doing a dancing show and you’re so afraid.

‘You have to look at yourself and think, “Why am I like this? Why am I so uptight? It’s just a bit of TV. Look at Ann Widdecombe. She looks ridiculous but she loves it. Go on. Just have fun.” It helped me to realise the boxing was over – that that chapter was closed. I had to learn to let myself go, not be so self-conscious. Expose my true self.’

View the original post Strictly Come Dancing 2011: Joe Calzaghe claims he was bullied by Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and Alesha Dixon on Unreality TV

Strictly Come Dancing professional Kristina Rihanoff revealed that she has already introduced her boyfriend Joe Calzaghe to her celebrity partner Goldie.

Kristina hooked up with Joe on the show last year, just weeks after they began their dance training. She insists that there is no chance of a romance with married star Goldie this year and introduced the pair to avoid any misunderstandings.

She told iVillage: “Joe knows this is my job. We live together now and are very happy.

“Goldie was dying to meet Joe as he’s a huge boxing fan. Goldie was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s so cool to meet you’.

“His wife Mika was there, she’s so sweet and supportive.”

View the original post Strictly Come Dancing 2010: Kristina Rihanoff introduces Joe Calzaghe to Goldie on Unreality TV

Strictly Come Dancing star Joe Calzage has been forced to admit that he regularly uses illegal drug cocaine.

The boxing champion (who was last week pictured kissing his sister!) was tricked by a team of undercover News Of The World reporters and admitted that not only does he take the drug. but that it is supplied by a relative of his and a famous soap star.

A friend of the star tipped off the newspaper saying:

“Since Joe’s given up boxing he’s basically become a coke user. A few of us have urged him to stop but he doesn’t listen. He started off doing it with some of his friends in Wales but now it’s more often.

“After his ring career came to an end he’s just gone wild, doing everything he couldn’t do while he was in sport. He’s gone off the rails, he’s dumped his long-term partner, done the dancing show and thinks he has a career in films. But his drug-taking is an open secret among mates and is definitely affecting his judgement.”

In meetings with the News Of The World team, Joe also offered to ‘score some’ of the substance for the undercover reporters. After being found out he issued a statement saying:

“I very much regret my occasional use of cocaine in what have sometimes been the long days since my retirement from the ring.

“I am fully aware of the bad example it sets to other people and particularly to youngsters and I apologise to my family, friends and fans.

“It is not a major problem in my life but it is something which I am actively addressing.

“Many of the other conversations reported to have taken place simply involve men joshing or shooting the breeze over a drink.

“While some statements are either untrue or exaggerations, I am, naturally, sorry for any embarrassment their publication may cause to entirely blameless third parties.”

View the original post Strictly Come Dancing’s Joe Calzaghe admits to cocaine abuse! on Unreality TV

Former Strictly Come Dancing competitor Joe Calzaghe, has admitted that he is hoping to pursue a movie career for himself.

Calzaghe, hopes to emulate the success of ex-footballer turned actor, Vinnie Jones.

“I’m not in the gym every day like I used to be so I’ve got a bit of time on my hands,” he told The Sun.

“I want to give the acting a go, why not? Vinnie’s done really well for himself, there’s no reason why I can’t.”

View the original post Joe Calzaghe wants movie career on Unreality TV

Joe Calzaghe has claimed that he was put out of Strictly Come Dancing, due to a derogatory comment he made about Craig Kelly.

Joe told The Sun: “It was something I said about Craig to producers. I won’t say what it was, but it was worse than a swear word.

“It was odd that we were in the bottom two for four weeks running, but that the public kept voting for us.

“We had the highest number of votes, the producers told us – but then all of a sudden we lost out with the judges.

“Something was up. You can say Strictly Come Dancing is a fix.”

A Strictly spokesman said: “Any suggestion the show is fixed is ridiculous.”

View the original post Joe Calzaghe says Strictly Come Dancing is fixed! on Unreality TV

Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips has blamed professional dancer, Kristina Rihanoff for Joe Calzaghe’s departure this weekend.

Arlene thinks the pair’s performances were lacking, because their romance was so heavily publicised outside the show.

Arlene told The Sun: “The thing about Strictly romances like Matt and Flavia’s is nobody knew. That’s what made it so unbelievably powerful.

“We were seeing two people dancing together and everyone was thinking: Are they? Or aren’t they?

“Nobody knew and so what was happening on screen became extremely powerful and everybody wondered if it was real.

“But the romances this year – Kristina and Joe, Ali and Brian – are out there for all to see so it becomes meaningless on the dance floor. There is no mystery, no haunting quality.”

Arlene admitted that Kristina is a good dancer and teacher, but says sometimes other elements take over. She said:

“She’s powerful and very creative too. She takes the bigger picture of ballroom and Latin and sees within the rules what she can add or put in, she’s a very good storyteller to her dance.

“But she has a lot of other things on her agenda – and sometimes it overshadows.”

View the original post Arlene Phillips blames Kristina Rihanoff for Joe Calzaghe’s departure on Unreality TV

Despite being kicked off Strictly Come Dancing this Saturday, dancer Kristina Rihanoff has insisted that it won’t be the end of her relationship with Joe Calzaghe.

Kristina told The Sun:

“He’s a very, very good-looking guy. He’s in top shape. Yes, I do think he’s sexy.”

“He’s the nicest and kindest person I’ve ever met. He’s a really, really nice guy.

“I hope our friendship stays for a long time because we got to know each other and developed a special connection.”

On being in the bottom two on Saturday, Kristina revealed that she was more shocked to see Zoe Lucker at the bottom than to see Joe.

She said:

“I was even more shocked to see Zoe in the bottom two because Zoe’s one of the best dancers.

“I knew we never had a chance so I told Joe, ‘Just enjoy it, it’s our last dance’.”

View the original post Strictly Come Dancing: Kristina Rihanoff finds Joe Calzaghe sexy! on Unreality TV

Boxing champion Joe Calzaghe has admitted that he has told the Strictly Come Dancing costume department that he won’t be wearing any pink lycra outifts on the show.

Joe told The Sun:

“I told Kristina to tell them: ‘I don’t want to wear no pink, no lycra, nothing too tight’. I’ve been pretty happy so far. Tonight I’m wearing a red satin shirt. Not just a red satin shirt, I’ll be in black trousers too.”

Joe also revealed that whilst he hasn’t yet waxed, he was ordered to shave his armpit hair for his recent routine.

He added:

“I haven’t been through waxing but I was given orders to trim under my arms for a paso doble. I wouldn’t go completely bald.”

How very manly!

View the original post Strictly Come Dancing: Joe Calzaghe won’t wear pink lycra on Unreality TV

Joe Calzaghe has finally admitted that he IS dating his Strictly Come Dancing partner, Kristina Rihanof.

The Mail On Sunday snapped Kristina leaving Joe’s apartment early yesterday morning and claims that she has slept there every night this week.

A source said: ‘Joe has said that he and Kristina are an item and they are very happy.

“They are meant to be focusing on the show and their dance moves but the truth is they are getting very distracted by each other.’

However, a spokesman for Calzaghe said: ‘They are two single people who are greatly enjoying each other’s company.’

View the original post Joe Calzaghe IS dating Kristina Rihanoff on Unreality TV

It seems that he can fight some of the world’s toughest men but when it comes to dancing with a petite blonde, Joe Calzaghe just can’t keep up.

The boxing champion is fearful that he may not be able to perform on tomorrow night’s Strictly launch show, after injuring his knee during training.

Joe’s partner Kristina Rihanoff, told The Sun: “Joe is rehearsing so hard.

“His knee is a bit sore and I am concerned about it.”

She added nervously: “I hope it goes well on Friday.”

View the original post Strictly Come Dancing: Joe Calzaghe sustains knee injury on Unreality TV