It was the controversial World Cup anthem which was deemed to be racist and a favourite of football hooligans.
So when Paul Merson was told his debut dance on Strictly would be to the controversial Vindaloo, he was understandably left fuming.
Audience members at the pre-recorded first episode said producers made Merson re-shoot the moment he was told which song he had been given – and he was encouraged to give a more upbeat reaction.
One onlooker at the filming last week told The Mail on Sunday: ‘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.’
Vindaloo, performed by Fat Les, was the unofficial anthem in the 1998 World Cup in France – in which Merson played – and was later deemed to be racist and a favourite of football hooligans.
Paul Merson was told his debut dance on Strictly would be to the controversial Vindaloo, he was understandably left fuming
Sam Quek, a former GB hockey player and presenter, will be joining the Strictly cast
Sam Quek celebrates gold at the Women’s hockey at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
TV presenter Nick Knowles has also joined the cast for this year
The full Strictly Come Dancing 2024 cast of contestants
The onlooker added: ‘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.
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‘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.’
Vindaloo was co-written by Blur bassist Alex James and Guy Pratt, with lyrics written by comedian Keith Allen.
But it was tinged with racist connotations as the inspiration behind it was said to have been a heated row that Allen had with Asian writer Farrukh Dhondy in 1989 on the BBC’s now-defunct panel series The Late Show.
Following a discussion about political correctness, Allen told Dhondy: ‘It’s not a chip you’ve got on your shoulder, it’s a f****** vindaloo.’
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Allen later claimed he used the word ‘vindaloo’ because it is faux ethnic and that the type of curry originated in Portugal. And in 2016, the BBC’s own presenter Nick Ahad, whose father is Bangladeshi, told how a group of white men wound their windows down and started chanting Vindaloo at him.
Merson was revealed as a Strictly contestant last month, following in the footsteps of his former Arsenal teammate Tony Adams, who took part in 2022 – making it to week eight before deciding not to take part in the dance-off after he was voted in the bottom two.
Speaking of his decision to sign up, Merson, 56, who also played for Middlesbrough and Aston Villa, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I’m doing it for my mum.
My dad, if it wasn’t for my dad, I wouldn’t have been a footballer – my dad took me everywhere to play football. I’m giving something back to my mum.
‘My mum never got the credit she deserved. This is her favourite TV programme, and I promised I’d go on it. But I don’t know how much I’m going to embarrass myself.’
The Sky Sports pundit added: ‘I’m well out of my comfort zone. I’ve danced three times before and my weddings. No slow dancing. But God loves a trier.’
STRICTLY LINE-UP 2024
Chris McCausland
Age: 46
Profession: Comedian
Chris says: ‘If anybody out there is thinking – How the hell is he going to do that? – then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing.’
Dr. Punam Krishan
Age: Unknown
Profession: GP and broadcaster
Punam says: ‘I have watched Strictly every year and it feels extra special that it’s the 20th year, I can’t believe I will be the one getting Strictly-fied.’
Toyah Willcox
Age: 66
Profession: Singer, actor, presenter
Toyah says: ‘I’m super excited and love this show. To be a part of it, the spray tan the glitter. Its a landmark year for me I came a pensioner, Glasto and now I get spray tans.’
Pete Wicks
Age: 36
Profession: Reality star
Pete says: ‘Dancing live in front of the nation every Saturday? Absolutely terrifying.’
Shayne Ward
Age: 39
Profession: Actor and singer
Shayne says: ‘I’m no stranger to live TV, but dancing Latin and Ballroom in front of millions is a whole new level.’
Tom Dean
Age: 24
Profession: Olympic medal winning swimmer
Tom says: ‘Now I can officially talk about how excited I am to get stuck into something new, meet some brilliant people and get dancing’
Nick Knowles
Age: 61
Profession: TV presenter
Nick says: ‘I am going to really go for it I will throw myself at it 100 per cent!’
JB Gill
Age: 37
Profession: Singer
JB says: ‘A lot of the ballroom styles are very alien to me – I didn’t do those dances growing up. I am not a trained dancer.’
Wynne Evans
Age: 52
Profession: Opera singer, presenter
Wynne says: ‘The stuff I’m nervous about is the ones that involve jumping, I don’t really want to do the jive, I’m nervous about that.
Tasha Ghouri
Age: 25
Profession: Model and reality star
Tasha says: ‘I’ve been watching the show since I was little – it’s a firm Ghouri family favourite – so this is a total dream come true.’
Sarah Hadland
Age: 53
Profession: Actress
Sarah says: ‘I feel particularly excited to be part of such an iconic show in its 20th year.’
Jamie Borthwick
Age: 30
Profession: EastEnders star
Jamie says: ‘I had a ball doing the Christmas special, so when I was asked to join it was the easiest yes!’
Sam Quek
Age: 35
Profession: Former GB hockey player and presenter
Sam says: ‘I am so relieved it is out there now it has been hard to keep a secret! The rumours were spreading and I had to lie! I am used to dancing on a girls night out but I will give it my all’
Paul Merson
Age: 56
Profession: Former footballer
Paul says: ‘I won’t worry about it until it starts but when it does I will be nervous – I have only danced three times in my life!’