Sarah Hadland: 'It's not too late for Craig to show favouritism'

Sarah Hadland might have benefited from a fortunate pairing with Vito Coppola, last year's champion from Strictly Come Dancing, but she is quick to dismiss any claims of bias.

"I don't believe we've experienced any special treatment, so there's still a chance for it to happen. And could you let Craig know that we could use a little favoritism?" she laughs while speaking with Metro from the Strictly studio.

Sarah, 53, has consistently impressed the judges on Strictly Come Dancing, with her Argentine Tango scoring an impressive 38 points as just one highlight.

There was some debate regarding the two 10s awarded to Sarah, as a mistake during her initial lift detracted from an otherwise flawless performance.

Craig Revel Horwood quickly noticed the mistake made by the duo but still described their performance as 'wonderful,' giving it a score of nine points.

Certain fans have noted that this situation might not have been entirely just, and concerns about favoritism became even more pronounced during the musicals week when the duo performed a number from Wicked.

At that time, the film version of the musical was doing exceptionally well at the box office, and some fans believed that this gave the duo a leg up.

However, Sarah is quick to point out that the couple faced a significant challenge during the musical week: time.

"We were supposed to perform to 'They Both Reach for the Gun' from Chicago, and we had an incredible routine that Matt Flynn choreographed for us. We were all set to practice it after receiving the song, which we had listened to, and I was absolutely thrilled! I had even seen the designs for my costume," she shared.

“Everything was prepared, and then, just hours before the live show on Saturday night, we received a message that the compliance team at the BBC had some worries about the word 'gun.' This led to a hectic rush to figure out what changes could be made on such short notice,” she explained.

Vito adds, "We designed our entire dance around the musical, rather than the film. Plus, Strictly fans will recall that Wicked was performed during musical week last year, with Annabelle taking the lead."

After clearing the air about claims of having an unfair advantage, Sarah thinks about how entering Strictly is completely new ground for her.

"I've been in a lot of studio sitcoms where you're performing in front of a live audience, but it requires you to juggle multiple things at once, especially with the cameras right in your face. However, this experience feels totally different. The pressure of going live is significant and can be a lot for anyone to handle," she explains, showcasing her usual energy.

"It's on a much larger scale than your typical studio sitcom. Plus, the live audience is really enthusiastic and engaged. The energy is amazing. The entire vibe of the show is filled with excitement, almost like being at a small rock concert," she finishes.

Before long, the duo falls into a comfortable pattern of playful conversation, poking fun at their typical rehearsal day. They describe how they frequently take breaks for toast, with Vito wiping the floor while Sarah unintentionally scorches the bread.

Sarah describes the usual happenings: "I’m making toast on the grill while we practice in the kitchen, and Vito is busy mopping the floor. I set the toast in place, and he moves on to preparing eggs. While he’s occupied, I drift away, only to return and find the toast charred. I inevitably get scolded for ruining it. When I rush back, I insist that I wasn’t involved with the toast at all."

Vito chuckles and agrees, saying, "And you were the one who initially mentioned that I need to spread the butter evenly. You emphasized how crucial it is to make sure the butter covers every part."

Once they addressed Vito’s butter consumption, the couple now goes through nearly a tub of butter each week. "Can you believe how much we use together?" Sarah shares. "I've introduced Vito to salted butter, which I believe is like the British equivalent of olive oil."

Although Sarah was not at all fond of Vito's ‘dusty Italian biscuits,’ she managed to mimic his Italian accent quite well when he asked her to pick up ‘chocolate covered lady fingers’ from the store, which had all three of us laughing.

It appears that the lighthearted bond between the two goes beyond just their relationship, as Sarah highlights how wonderful all the other competitors are, describing them as “the least competitive group of people you could ever meet.”

She mentions that while observing the other couples perform, she has a lot of time to reflect. For instance, when asked which dance would suit each character from Miranda, she responds right away: "Penny would definitely be the Viennese waltz, Miranda would be the jive, and as for Stevie, it's clearly the Charleston."

When they were questioned about whether they drew any inspiration from Miranda, she playfully responded, making Vito chuckle, “Absolutely! We incorporated all of Miranda’s advice into our choreography. Vito actually dedicated a lot of time to studying her videos and made certain to integrate all her suggestions, even though some of her techniques were quite challenging, even for him.”

The mood shifts a bit when they are asked about their chances in the finals. Vito chimes in, emphasizing, "It's best not to look too far ahead. The present moment is what matters."

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