Clanger delays husband’s ‘parachute sabotage’ trial I moved in to help Debbie after Paul died but Strictly has put a sparkle back in her eyes
THE trial of the soldier accused of trying to murder his wife by tampering with her parachute was delayed due to a blunder by a member of court staff.
Judge Mr Justice Sweeney said the worker had wrongly engaged in a discussion with jurors about the case against Sgt Emile Cilliers, 37.
The judge put the trial on hold for several hours yesterday to determine the impact of the conversation in the jury’s private room. Mr Justice Sweeney told Winchester crown court in Hampshire the member of staff is “new and untrained”. Royal Army Physical Training Corps soldier Cilliers, who lives at the HQ in Aldershot, Hants, denies attempting to murder wife Victoria, 40. She was seriously injured at Netheravon airfield in Wilts in 2015 after both her parachutes failed following a jump from 4,000ft. The trial continues.
her first steps under the glitter ball with Giovanni. Their Paso Doble, which ended with Debbie planting an unscripted smacker on Giovanni’s lips, raised the roof. But questions have been raised about Debbie’s past ballet training and whether that gives her an unfair advantage. She made her name in her 20s as Paul’s assistant on his BBC Magic Show, where “The Lovely Debbie McGee” became his catchphrase. But she had joined the Royal Ballet School at 16, and then danced with the Iranian National Ballet in Tehran – her career then curtailed by the 1979 revolution. Donna stresses that Debbie quit ballet at 19, and is new to ballroom and Latin, but she is not surprised Debbie is sweeping the judges off their feet. As a child, Debbie was mad about dance class. They started ballet as threeyear-olds in Surbiton, Surrey, but it was Debbie who took to it. Donna says: “She was definitely a little performer from the word go. She wanted to be famous. She has always loved it. “At five, I’d be playing with dolls, but Debbie was practising if she had a show coming up. While I would go to the youth club, Debbie would practise.” It paid off when Debbie got into the Royal Ballet School. Donna says: “She worked hard. I think she has natural flair. When you love to do something, you do it well.”
Donna, a business coach, recalls her sister leaving for Iran. “She was so excited. She wanted to forge a career in Iran.”
When she returned home, Debbie tried to join British ballet companies to no avail.
While Donna married aged 20, Debbie “was dedicated to her career” and put it before relationships, says Donna.
She spent a short time touring as a dancer with bands – including ABBA – and in 1979 joined Paul Daniels’ troupe. Quickly, she was asked to join
him on his popular BBC TV show. Donna says it was not love at first sight, but their passion was built on friendship and laughter. When they married nine years later, Donna was the couple’s bridesmaid.
Debbie and Paul, who never had children would babysit for Donna’s sons James, now 25 and a professional magician thanks to Paul’s influence, and Matthew, 22. Donna describes her sister’s marriage as like a “fairytale”. She says. “They were such good friends, you never went to their house without them laughing, they were always cracking jokes.”
Donna insists Debbie never regretted giving up ballet. But later, as Paul’s career slowed down, he supported her dream to run a ballet school – Ballet Imaginaire. Donna says: “She was brilliant at choreography. She can envision things and that is probably helping her now because she understands what Giovanni is giving her. She picks it up and will practise it step by step until she gets it right.
“Even if Giovanni says, ‘You’ve got it’ she will keep on until she thinks she has got it right.” Although this week, the quickstep routine is proving a challenge. Donna says: “It’s tough, she is struggling a bit with it – there is lots of acting in it.”
Just to be clear, Debbie’s passion is for dance – and not for Giovanni.
Donna laughs when I mention the whispers of her sister’s close chemistry with her young dance partner. “Hysterical” is the word she uses and says Debbie had “laughed about it”.
She adds: “She adores Giovanni and he adores her, they have such a respect for each other. You can see he is loving teaching her.”
But is he her type? Donna squeals: “A 27-year-old? No! He’s James’s age.”
She says: “We never have a conversation about her meeting anyone else, I know she is not ready. But when she is, I will be here and support her.
“She has lot of love to give, she is a really lovely lady, and would be a lovely partner for someone – just not yet.”
They were such good friends. They were always laughing DONNA PHELAN SISTER OF DEBBIE McGEE