Sexy? I’m just a plain Joe
Strictly star shrugs off his boyish heart-throb image
JOE McFadden is already considered a heart-throb on Holby – and now he has Strictly fans swooning over his boyish looks.
But the 42-year-old insists he is no sex symbol, despite having a legion of women admirers dating back to his days on soap Take the High Road.
Joe said at the mention of those followers: “Really? I had loads of girl fans? I don’t remember that. I don’t believe that. And I certainly never felt more special than anyone else.”
The actor, who had a modelling career with Paul Smith before he was even 20, once became so embarrassed by all the attention he decided to cut off his famous long eyelashes.
Joe added: “I had a lot of comments about them. It bugged me.
“I was poised with the scissors and nearly lost my lashes, but my mum came in and saved them. Now, the Strictly make-up girls say it’s not fair boys get the good lashes.”
Joe will dress as a spider for a foxtrot in tonight’s Halloween special with partner Katya Jones. Their sizzling hot paso doble won 10 points from head judge Shirley Ballas last week.
But some fans reckoned they were overmarked. Joe said: “I didn’t know that, that’s bad news. When Katya and I looked back at the tape, we saw there was room for improvement. We hadn’t expected a 10. Our minds were blown.” Years of playing Holby surgeon Raffaello “Raf ” di Lucca has helped Joe deal with the dance injuries he picks up. He said: “Last week I skinned both knees so knew to disinfect my wounds and dress them. It’s come in handy.” There is one thing Joe won’t discuss – his private life. He said: “If I say I’m single people think I’m this lonely person, so I’m not going to go there.”