The temperature is plummeting, the nights are drawing in and there’s a whole lot of sparkle in the air, all of which can only mean one thing - a new series of Strictly Come Dancing is upon us.
A brand new batch of celebrities are waiting to be unleashed into a world of sequins, fake tan and Samba rolls when the BBC ballroom competition launches on Saturday night.
But before the 15 famous faces are let loose on the dance floor for the first time, they had to face the nation’s press at a special event last week.
After we sat down with the like of Michelle Visage, Emma Barton, Chris Ramsey and David James, these are the juicy details we discovered...
‘I’m that frightened, my dick goes back in my body when I dance’
Comedian Chris Ramsey has already spoken about why he’s not going to fall victim to the Strictly curse (not only because he loves his wife, but that he also values their hit podcast too much), but he went one step further to assure everyone there would be no funny business with his partner.
When he was asked if he was worried about getting aroused while getting up close and personal with a pro-dancer, he claimed that his penis “goes back in his body” due to nerves.
“Thank you for that question!” he laughed. “People ask this all the time, and people say it’s like a sort of sexual, animalistic thing. The amount of crap I have to remember while I’m doing that – Smile! Keep you hands closed! Stay back! Move your elbow here! It’s like me saying to you, ‘did you get aroused during that maths exam?’ There’s so much to think about, so the answer is no, I’m not worried at all.
“I’m that frightened, my dick goes back in my body when I dance. Like a dog.”
‘I’m not feeling the pressure of being the bookies’ favourite’
Former England Lioness Alex Scott is entering the competition as the bookies favourite, after previously winning a special Sport Relief edition of Strictly last year.
But despite her previous experience in the ballroom, she’s shocked to find people backing her so early on, admitting she thinks their faith might be a little misplaced.
Looking back on the Sport Relief special, she said: “I was up against Chris Kamara who had a bad back, so couldn’t move, David Ginola flew in the day of the competition and Karen was like, ‘This is what we’re doing’, whereas I had a couple of days with Pasha [Kovalev, the former professional].
“I don’t think that’s enough to cut it, but obviously the bookies have said that…”
Asked whether she’s feeling the pressure, she continued: “Only from my friends! When they keep messaging me; ‘Do you know you’re the favourite?’ And I’m like, ‘Shut up!’”
‘I’ll be a hit with the mums!’
Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin is very hopeful about his popularity with a certain demographic of the Strictly audience.
“I’m usually a big hit with mums,” he says. “It’s the dads I’ve got to worry about – they see through the thin veil!”
‘Corrie blocks stars from doing Strictly’
Catherine Tyldesley’s name has been linked with Strictly for a long time now, but she revealed there’s a reason why she’s never done it before – ITV bosses don’t allow Coronation Street stars to take part on BBC shows.
“When you’re in Corrie, they’re not going to let you... they won’t let you do it,” she explained. “They’ll only let you do ITV things like Dancing On Ice.”
The actress, who left her role as Eva Price earlier this year, added: “I have spoken to [Strictly producers] before, but it felt like this was the right time. It had to work for us as a family, and this is the right time.”
‘I’m expecting a dance that involves a pool’
His infamous pool fall on BBC Breakfast has followed him since last year, and Mike Bushell is expecting things to be no different during his stint on Strictly.
The BBC Breakfast sports reporter told of how he is anticipating a whole routine to be based around his hilarious gaffe, after he took an unexpected tumble in a pool during an interview with England’s Commonwealth Swimming team last year.
He said: “I’ve already been told by the bosses not to stand too close to the edge of the stage, because I do like to get into things, but [the pool incident] was to do with a live broadcast and the location changing last minute.
“But yes, the pool has actually followed me, it’ll be interesting to see if there will be a dance which involves a pool.”
‘I’ll be teaching my dance partner how to vogue’
Usually it is the pros doing the teaching, but Michelle Visage’s partner might end up learning something from her.
The Drag Race judge has submitted a heap of Madonna songs to producers to be considered for her routines, which she’s teased could mean she will do some voguing on the show.
Given the moves actually originated from New York drag ball culture, which Michelle was involved in back in the 1990s, she was asked if she’d have to teach her dance partner how to vogue properly, to which she responded: “I would probably have to, for it to be done right!”
‘There’s a blossoming bromance’
There’s been a blossoming three-way bromance brewing behind-the-scenes before Jamie Laing’s abrupt exit from the series due to injury.
Alex Scott revealed Jamie and CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual had formed a close bond, with Chris Ramsey also filling the final place in the three musketeers.
When we spotted the banter flowing between Chris and Jamie at the launch, we remarked to the comedian that it looked like everyone we getting on well, to which he said: “Honestly, I’m glad you’ve spotted that because we keep saying how well we’re all getting on and it sounds like we’re lying to you guys.
“I’ve never had a job in TV and back in the day when I worked in pubs and stuff where I got on with everyone so much. It’s crazy.”
‘AJ’s said I’ll get him – but don’t count Neil or Kevin out’
After pro dancer AJ Pritchard seemingly spilled the beans that he’d been partnered with YouTuber Saffron Barker, she remained particularly coy when pressed about him.
“I think he said that cause we’re the same height, I’m the smallest girl and he’s the smallest guy and that would work really well,” she said. “But I think maybe I could get Neil or Kevin cause they’re really small as well.
“I mean I’d love to have him AJ but I’d love to have anyone cause they’re so lovely.”
‘Launch weekend marks a special TV anniversary for me’
The weekend of the Strictly launch is especially significant to one of this year’s contestants – it marks a very special anniversary for Anneka Rice.
She explained: “The most touching thing for me is that its 30 years on 8 September that Challenge Anneka first aired. That’s an amazing thing after 30 years to be returning to the bosom of the BBC, so it’s partly why I did it.
“This is a show I’ve watched all my life, I’ve brought my children to the audience so it never occurred to me that I could be doing it myself.”
‘I’m not too experienced for the show – despite what I said 10 years ago’
Emma Barton has distanced herself from previous comments she made about having “too much experience” to take part on the show.
Back in 2009, the EastEnders actress suggested her time in a touring production of Chicago meant she would have an unfair advantage, given her level of dance experience, if she were to take part in Strictly.
But now, Emma said: That was 10 years ago. I think at the time because I was on my feet doing a show, that’s probably why I said that at the time. But now I’m in it, I have never done anything that we’re going to be starting to do.
“I’m very good at a jazz hand, I’ve got musicality, but really, I’ve never been in hold or done any of these things at all. It will be a new thing.”
‘I want to beat Matt Dawson’
James Cracknell is hoping to live up to the bar rugby player Matt Dawson set early on into Strictly’s history, admitting he’s the star who’s journey he’d most like to emulate.
“He annoyingly came second, but it was much easier then,” he laughs. “It’s like A-levels, it’s all changed!”
Strictly Come Dancing launches on Saturday at 7.10pm on BBC One.
