DANCING ON
Brooke and Matej came next to last in Week Two
But the Coronation Street actress reckons things will really hot up afterwards – when she finally gets back in the arms of footballer boyfriend Kean Bryan.
Brooke, 25, says she is more in love than ever after the toll the ITV show has taken on her relationship.
She revealed: “It’s been 10 weeks of hard work – and it’s made me realise how much I miss being at home.”
Like BBC rival Strictly, DOI – now in its tenth series – has seen many contestants fall for their professional partners… as well as flings among the judges.
But for Brooke, who started dating Oldham Athletic star Kean, 21, last year, that has never been on the cards.
After he travelled down to support her last week, she tweeted: “Bless him. He’s been to work with me today and now travelling to London with me to make sure I’m ok and to spend time together!!
“I couldn’t have got through these past three months without him! Right by my side always @keanb07.”
And when Brooke was announced as one of tonight’s final three – alongside Jake Quickenden and Max Evans – Kean tweeted: “Get in! So proud babe.”
Exhausted Brooke said: “My boyfriend, my parents and friends have been so supportive, they’ve all helped us on our little journey.
“I’ve had to shut myself away for a few months, which has been hard. I’m ready to get back to see them. I can’t wait to get back and settle in.”
Brooke has kept up her Corrie job while training for the ice contest – giving her a tougher time than her rivals.
But she still goes into tonight’s final as second favourite on odds of 5-1, against the 1-6 favourite Jake, 29. Rugby star Max, 34, trails on 16-1.
But both male competitors will raise the stakes, with plans to attempt the
Brooke with footballer Kean perilous “headbanger” move, or bounce spin – in which the female dancer is held by her ankles and spun, her body rising and falling with her head close to the ice. Max’s partner Ale Izquierdo, 28, said: “I’ve seen it end badly. There was a girl in a coma, and I heard another person died.” But Max promised: “I feel confident – and Ale trusts me.” Brooke’s 18-hour days have seen her dash regularly between Manchester and Hertfordshire, squeezing in practice with her US partner Matej Silecky, 23. Brooke said: “It’ll be a lot quieter after DOI. I can stay in bed a little longer. We’ve not had a day to recuperate.” She added: “I want to thank everyone who’s put up with my stressy moods, and to Matej, taking on my commitments.” Clicking her fingers, Brooke admitted: “I stress like that. There’s tears. I have a few minutes crying then I say let’s go. I’m like a child. I need to go to bed at 7pm. It’s frustration with myself.” But her partnership with Matej has gone from strength to strength. Brooke explained: “We weren’t getting the scores and didn’t know what the judges wanted. “Then we found how to get the best out of each other. He jokes about my tea breaks. I like a brew, then we go again. It’s a bit like a comma.” Brooke said being on the show has let people get to know her, adding: “That’s been amazing for me. It’s the first time people have seen me, not my character.” Her proudest moment was skating last week to Ariana Grande’s One Last Time, in tribute to the Manchester Arena bomb victims. She said: “What a massive honour to skate to a song from where I’m from, that represents such strength and solidarity.” The actress – the Street’s Sophie Webster for 14 years – added: “Going back to Corrie is me going home – back to my day job, where I know how everything is run. “It’s not unpredictable like a Sunday night live show.” janine.yaqoob@ trinitymirror.com