Strictly Come Dancing runner-up Rachel Stevens reflected on her experience on the BBC show, describing it as “amazing” but equally “terrifying”. The S Club 7 star took part in 2008 and was partnered with Italian professional Vincent Simone. The duo made it all the way to the final and finished in second place, losing out on the Glitterball to actor Tom Chambers and Camilla Dallerup.
Speaking to the Express about her time on the show, Rachel said: “I have so many memories from my time on Strictly, it was an amazing experience and dancing, for me, is just the most beautiful art there is. “But it was bl**dy terrifying too. For people who are performers who go on, there is a certain expectation that you should be brilliant because you have danced before.
I remember really feeling that back in the day and I was so incredibly out of my comfort zone. “Performing on a pop stage is very different to performing with a partner in a ballroom hold. It's such a different way of performing and I was never a trained dancer.
I guess I picked up pop dance routines back in S Club or when I was doing my solo stuff, but this was a different kettle of fish altogether. It was a very nerve-wracking experience but brilliant.” The show has found itself in another fix row as a number of stars on the 2024 line-up have previous dance experience.
Love Island star Tasha Ghouri is a trained dancer with several years' experience. Her skills have made it to screens and she previously starred in MNEK’s music video for his 2020 song, More Than Words. Tasha, 25, has addressed backlash about her previous dance experience, telling KISS FM listeners: “I’ve not danced in quite a few years now, since Love Island my career has changed so much.
"I might not be good at [ballroom], like ballet, I’m not good at ballet, I’m trained in commercial, so I’m excited to learn these new styles.” Singer JB Gill also has a dance background following his time in boyband JLS and Miranda star Sarah Hadland has admitted that she is a trained dancer. Offering some words of wisdom for this year’s contestants, Rachel says: “Go for it, just absolutely go for it.
Soak up every minute and just have fun.” The new series of Strictly Come Dancing will begin next month, with the launch show expected to air on Saturday, September 14. Get the latest Strictly news straight to your inbox with our Strictly Come Dancing newsletter.
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