STRICTLY FUN DANCING!
NEWSREADER Kate Silverton has promised to use her assets and make her children laugh during her time on Strictly Come Dancing.
The BBC journalist, 48, is one of the favourites for an early exit from the competition which kicks off on BBC1 at 7:35pm on Saturday night but that will not stop her showing her fun side. And her main aim is to entertain her two children, Clemency, six, and Wilbur. She said: “I have simply told Wilbur that mummy will be shaking her bottom. As anyone with a four-year-old boy will know, any talk of bottoms is utterly hilarious so he’s all in favour.”
Kate was angered by internet trolls who accused her of abandoning her family to take part in the show. She said: “When asked in previous years I have either been away reporting from Iraq and then Afghanistan or raising a young family. My children will be at school when I am training. It’s the reason I have agreed to do Strictly.”
So, here’s how the fabulous 15 rate their chances...
1: VICK HOPE, 28
“I love dancing although that doesn’t mean I’m good at it,” says the Capital FM DJ. “I like to move to music. I’ve broken chairs and the studio wall.”
ODDS: 6/1
2: SEANN WALSH, 32
“The first thing my mum said was, ‘But Seann, you can’t dance,’ says the comedian. “My closest friends laughed loudly for five minutes.”
ODDS: 25/1
3: LAUREN STEADMAN, 25
“The biggest challenge will be getting around certain moves with my arm,” says the Paralympian. “We’ll have to think outside the box.”
ODDS: 16/1
4: LEE RYAN, 35
“I used to sneak out of dance class when I was young and wait for the singing lessons,” admits the Blue singer. “Still, I’m in it to win it.”
ODDS: 8/1
5: KATE SILVERTON, 48
“I have not worn skirts that short since playing netball in school,” says the newsreader. “I am headlong into a very steep learning curve.” ODDS: 20/1
6: CHARLES VENN, 45 “I’d like to think I’ve got rhythm,” the EastEnders star reveals. “In terms of my dancing, I would say I’m a six – still four more to go.”
ODDS: 7/1
7: KATIE PIPER, 34 “I love tanning and make-up so I’m going to be so excited,” says the TV presenter. “I’ve had a costume fitting and that was so cool. You think, ‘Where else would I ever get to wear this?’.”
ODDS: 12/1
8: DR RANJ SINGH, 39 “I’m hoping that attention to detail in learning will help me pick stuff up,” says the TV doctor. “But there’s only a limited time to do this so I’ve just got to lower my expectations a bit.”
ODDS: 14/1
9: FAYE TOZER, 42 “I think I’d say that I’m a pretty good dancer. I’m very well known for throwing a few shapes with Steps anyway but I’ve never done any ballroom or Latin,” says the Steps singer.
10: JOE SUGG, 26
“If I get to Blackpool I would love to get my 96-year-old nan up,” says the YouTube star. “She used to dance there when she was young.”
ODDS: 12/1
11: SUSANNAH CONSTANTINE, 56
“I’m competitive but have to be realistic about how far I’ll get,” says the TV presenter. “I’m keeping my expectations low but my hopes high.”
ODDS: 40/1
12: DANNY JOHN-JULES, 57
“When I was in a local drama group I was in the world disco dance championships,” reveals the Red Dwarf star. “I came second or third.”
ODDS: 7/1
13: STACEY DOOLEY, 31
“I think I really look the part,” laughs the TV presenter. “Everyone else is like ‘You’ve got to be joking’ so it’s a split jury, we’ll soon see. You have to jump in with both feet.”
ODDS: 10/1
14: GRAEME SWANN, 39
“If I’m honest I hope to win it,” says the cricketer. “You won’t find sportsmen doing anything they don’t think they can win.” ODDS: 25/1
15: ASHLEY ROBERTS, 36
“I do have rhythm and I think I’ll be able to pick it up well,” says the former Pussycat Doll. “But having the guy lead is just foreign to me.”
ODDS: 7/2 favourite