Strictly's Paul Merson 'livid' with BBC bosses in race row

Paul Merson has been left fuming with Strictly bosses over his debut dance song (Image: PA)

Paul Merson has reportedly been left fuming with Strictly Come Dancing bosses over the controversial song chosen for his first routine.

The Arsenal legend, 56, now a Sky Sports pundit, is hoping to show off some dazzling footwork after signing for the popular show.

But he’s reportedly "fuming" after the song Vindaloo was chosen for him by Strictly for his first dance.

Vindaloo is a song by British band Fat Les, co-written by Blur bassist Alex James and part-time Pink Floyd bassist Guy Pratt.

function loadOvpScript(){let el=document.createElement('script');el.setAttribute('src','https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=118222&playerApiId=v118222');document.getElementById('ovp-primis').appendChild(el)} window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v118222"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}});window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',()=>{setTimeout(()=>{if(typeof flagTcfLoaded!=='undefined'&&flagTcfLoaded===!0){loadOvpScript() ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP flagTcfLoaded',new Date())}else{document.addEventListener("tcfLoaded",()=>{loadOvpScript() ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP tcfLoaded',new Date())})}},1500)})

It was released as a single in 1998 and recorded for the FIFA World Cup that same year.

The song was originally written as a parody of football chants but was adopted as one in its own right and became a cult classic.

In recent years, however, Vindaloo has been seen as a controversial World Cup anthem and has been deemed racist.

An onlooker at the filming of Strictly’s first episode has now told The Mail on Sunday that the star had to re-do his reaction to being told he’d dance to Vindaloo, after he appeared noticeably "cross".

Read More Strictly Come Dancing star parades epic seven stone weight loss on ITV show

The Arsenal legend, 56, is part of the new lineup (Image: PA)

They said: "Paul looked really cross. The celebrities and their partners were being told what songs they would have. Lots of them were given lovely classics – then he got Vindaloo.

"You can't blame him for thinking he is being set up to be the joke act, but also the connotations of it [the song] are also not exactly positive either. It has been accused of being racist and the song that far-right football hooligans sing."

The source added: "It's pretty thoughtless of the BBC to give it to one of their stars of Strictly, particularly given all of the scandals that have engulfed the show for the last nine months. The BBC clearly forgot its woke agenda on this occasion."

The song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in June 1998, beaten by England footie anthem Three Lions '98 by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner, and The Lightning Seeds.

window.topArticlesScript="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/js/dist/article-top-articles20240911.min.js" SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Paul played for Arsenal for 11 seasons and earned 21 England caps, and the BBC has said Paul "will be a popular addition" to the Strictly line-up.

Elsewhere, Strictly Come Dancing pro Aljaz Skorjanec has addressed claims he “acted in an aggressive manner” to a BBC show co-star.

Slovenian dancer Skorjanec is returning to the hit series this year after departing in 2022 – but it was reported that his comeback ruffled feathers due to an alleged “shocking” altercation with a female professional co-star while performing as part of the Strictly tour.

Skorjanec’s return will arrive following the departure of both Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, who were embroiled in a training room conduct controversy.

Strictly's Paul Merson 'livid' with BBC bosses in race row

Strictly's Paul Merson 'livid' with BBC bosses in race row

Strictly's Paul Merson 'livid' with BBC bosses in race row

Strictly's Paul Merson 'livid' with BBC bosses in race row

Strictly's Paul Merson 'livid' with BBC bosses in race row