Ready, Steady… Strictly
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weekend16 SEPTEMBER 2017 As Strictly goes live, Jonnie, Alexandra, Brian and Charlotte on fear, flirty frocks FOR IT! and fake tan here’s a certain terror that comes with stepping into the Strictly spotlight for the first time. It’s OK for the contestants who Tknow they can dance a bit, and per- haps have a proven sense of rhythm. It’s also easier, surely, for the comedi- ans, knowing their humour may at least Ready, win them a place in the next round. What about those in the middle though? ‘What are you saying?’ says Good Morning Britain presenter and newsreader Charlotte Hawkins in mock horror. ‘That I’m not funny and I can’t dance, so I’ll go out in week one?’ Who knows, but if she does her fans will have been robbed because she has a spectacular ability to rock those Strictly frocks. Which, let’s face it, is a steady... necessary talent too. When she emerg- es from the dressing room for our photoshoot, a vision in scarlet with legs up to her armpits, all jaws drop. I joke that all she’ll have to do to win over the public is offer a flash of thigh. It worked for Ange- la Rippon. ‘Is that why people start asking for shorter dresses as the weeks go on?’ she jokes. We have to have a little s u l t r i n e s s served up on our Sat u rday n ight Strictly, but is it going to come from Charlotte, who’s always seemed like a Charlotte can’t stop giggling, bit of an ice queen? Well, let’s just say her professional partner Brendan Cole and Alexandra’s lost without might have his work cut out as she’s already struggling with the sensual a microphone. Brian’s got side of things. ‘I can’t stop laughing,’ she says. ‘You have to look deep into your partner’s eyes. It’s the weirdest a secret backstage ally – while thing, because who does that with a stranger in everyday life? My default Jonnie’s just plain terrified. is to start giggling. It’s like being at the school dance and being mortified But they’re all doing it for when you come face to face with a boy. I hope I can get over that. ‘I’m thrilled to be partnered with touchingly personal reasons, Brendan though. He’s a brilliant danc- er and he’s been on Strictly from the they tell Jenny Johnston start, so I’m in safe hands. We had a twirl together live on Good Morning Britain recently when he was a guest, the first dance at their wedding, horror of getting up close and intimate you’re a 29-year-old woman, you can up are more immediately in tune with so he may have realised he’s in for a which was a waltz to Michael Bublé. with the professionals. Singer Alexan- do this.” But I couldn’t.’ their sensual sides? The talk today is tough time teaching me. The good ‘I can’t say we were too expert dra Burke, who’s paired with Gorka The way Strictly works, though, certainly of stripping off. First stop is thing is we’re already friends, so I though. We were basically trying to Ma rquez – or these two will the legendary Strictly sheep dip – aka know we’re going to have a laugh learn enough so we didn’t step on Gorka the Corker, surely be throw- the spray tan booth. Paralympian Jon- together as well as get the work done.’ each other’s toes.’ Does her husband as his partner last ing their legs nie Peacock tries to argue that he’s She’s certainly in line for some teas- mind the idea of her getting raunchy year, EastEnders ‘It’s like around their part- been already (‘can’t you tell?’) but ing from GMB co-host Piers Morgan, with another man? She laughs out actress Tameka ners’ heads with- with his blue-white hue there’s no way who reacted to her Strictly news with loud at the idea that their marriage Empson, nick- being at the in weeks. ‘We’ll anyone’s buying that. Comedian Brian glee. ‘He sent me a text saying, “Oh might fall foul of the Strictly ‘curse’, named him – has see,’ says Alex- Conley is rather horrified to learn he’ll we’ll have some fun with this”, which in which the stars leave their partners her own tale of school dance andra. ‘But I’m be expected to have an all-over tan. sounded like a threat,’ she says. Does and waltz off with their pro dancers. woe. ‘Before we over the moon I ‘Why? Surely they just need to do my she reckon Piers will ever do Strictly? ‘I’m very happily married, thank were allocated our – mortifying’ got Gorka. He’s face and hands. There’s no way I’m She shakes her head. ‘No, he only does you,’ she says. ‘Mark’s not worried at partners I went CHARLOttE HAWKINS one of the danc- stripping off on the dancefloor. Show things he knows he’d be good at.’ all. Although maybe I should be con- nose to nose with ers I’d hoped to my six-pack like Judge Rinder did last Charlotte does let slip that she’s cerned about what he thinks of me. one of the professionals – I won’t say be paired with so I’m really pleased. year? Are you having a laugh? I need had dance lessons before – she and He did ask me if I was going to be the who – and I pulled back so fast it was I’ve got a lot to learn though, so it’s a bra for my man boobs.’ her husband Mark, a drinks company Ed Balls character this year.’ embarrassing. I was a big chicken. I work, work, work from now on.’ Can Brian dance? Surely an old- executive, took a few to prepare for It turns out she’s not alone in her was saying to myself, “Come on, Perhaps the men in this year’s line- school entertainer like him – old TINY TREASURES During WWII, Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti’s works became smaller and smaller as he sought to perfect them. By the end of the war, he could carry his sculptures with him in matchboxes (Fake Or Fortune, tomorrow, 8pm, BBC1) 4 weekend COVER AND INsidE PHOTogRAPHS: NicKY JOHNSTON, HaiR & MAKE-UP: VicTORia BARNES, ALicE THEobaLD, KaTRINA APPIE AND Rio SREEDHARAN, SET STYLING: SIMON GodfREY, CLOTHES STYLING: ARabELLA BOYCE. ALEXANDRA WEARS DREss BY FOREVER UNIQUE, JEWELLERY BY BUTLER AND WILsoN, HEELS BY PUBLic DEsiRE. CHARLOTTE WEARS NadiNE MERabi @LiTTLEBLacKDREss.CO.UK, HEELS BY LK BENNETT. MENswEAR AND SHOES BY HawES AND CURTis - - - - - - - - - - 5 weekend CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 ON PAGE CONTINUED This year’s show will be the first to to first the be will show year’s This Brian rubbed shoulders with Brucie Brucie with shoulders rubbed Brian Strict with attraction the what’s So his polish to more do will it Perhaps taining when it shifts to the Strictly dance has He floor. the photography with about larks he as stitches in crew sombrero. a and guitar Spanish a include an amputee and Jonnie Pea arrivalcock’s today is interesting in thanyou low-key more much it’s that photo the into slips He expect. would ‘I’m unnoticed. almost studio graphic and out I’m when much recognised not associ people ‘Mostly says. he about,’ referring, He’s blade.’ the with me ate look futuristic rather the to course, of ing prosthetic thatleg helped him to podium glory, most famously at the 2012 Paralympics in the 100m. It’s success his with synonymous become they where know to want meet I (‘kids So “Er…”’). say, to have I one. get can will he be wearing it on the Strictly entertainment business. ‘He was a huge himself huge during hisa years in the was light ‘He business. entertainment by guided much very was I influence. Game. Generation The on did he what loss.’ huge a It’s master. the was He reality- other in dabbled has Brian ly? memo most before, contests TV type didn’t one That Celebrity. A I’m rably stretch famously was He happily. end on withdraw to after ered out having star soap blames He medical advice. the failing kept ‘She Flanagan. Helen challenges, so we didn’t col getI food. I days. nine for properly eat didn’t was I later. days two up woke I lapsed. At diagnosed move. to weak with too was malnutrition I exhaustion. and one.’ this on food some get I’ll least to career supposed too (which is,‘It’s after it). all, do why celebrities most home came I but about talked you get noticed had one no and jungle the Strictly from ‘But complains. he in,’ been I’d is different. It’s proper old-school entertainment, a family How show. could you not want to be involved?’ Will anyone notice him on Strictly then? Yes, yes, and yes again if his enter as is today impression matador last year, and I was blown away at what what as hisalong, at guest, filmingto watch away blown was I and year, last a great job Alan does. allWe’re so a is proud of him. the It’s together hardest job in come all it seeing but telly, sec the on show the joined Alan joy.’ ond series.