Saturday, 18th February 2006
Manchesteronline
Paul Britton
A PROFESSIONAL dancer from Bury has become the "Mr Nasty" of Swedish reality TV.
Tony Irving is putting an extra spring in the step of contestants on the Swedish version of Strictly Come Dancing - and a hint of light-hearted controversy is in the air.
Ballroom and Latin dancer Tony is the head of a panel of four judges on Let's Dance.
The show, which mirrors the format of the BBC show, is attracting two million viewers and is one of the most popular shows in Swedish television history.
But Tony's no-nonsense verdicts of the celebrity dancer's performances are drawing comparisons with the scathing comments of X Factor judge Simon Cowell.
Tony has become a permanent face in the Swedish newspapers and says his comments have led to people approaching him in the street to express their outrage and disgust.
Tony, who grew up in Lowercroft and was a pupil at Bury Church of England High School, said: "When we went on the show, they told us that the judges were not going to be promoted - just the contestants. I was told not to be too negative but I do not think they can dance so I tell it like it is.
Whirlwind
"It has just ballooned over here and I feel that I am in a whirlwind. I feel like a bit of a Simon Cowell. I have not been so hated in all my life! People have come up to me to call me evil to my face."
Tony moved from Bury to study sociology at Stockholm University in 1993 and has danced competitively since he left school, starting at Tasker's dance school in Bury. At 21, he reached the finals of the American Ballroom Dancing Championships then won through to the finals of the British Ballroom Dancing Championships.
After moving back to Sweden three years ago he has won the Swedish Championships twice and was invited to be a judge on the show as a result.
The second series of Strictly Come Dancing was won by cricketer Darren Gough and his dance partner Lilia Kopylova.
On Let's Dance the action has got down to the last five contestants. Stars include a Norwegian weather presenter, a boxer turned television presenter, a former Swedish Big Brother contestant, a sports journalist and famous Swedish actors and singers.
Tony, who teaches dance in Sweden, said: "It has been lots of fun."
