Natalie Lowe

On show 2009-2016

IT MIGHT appear slick and smooth on a Saturday night, but Australian Natalie admits the dress rehearsals can look very different.

Natalie, 40, says: “I’ve had my stockings get caught in Scott Maslen’s flies during an Argentine tango lift, a sleeve wrap around a partner’s head and choke them, shoes slip on the stairs.

“But that is why dress rehearsals are in full outfits, as nine times out of 10 you end up rushing to the sewing room attached to your partner to get fixed.

“Live shows aren’t always perfect – my hair has fallen out and Erin Boag lost her weaves. In the Australian version, my partner’s mic caught in my dress in a salsa and tangled us up.

“The mics are in our bra cups, and the dress ladies have to get very creative to make sure we don’t have strange lumps and look well-balanced.”

For the men, the biggest challenge is often the Cuban heels for the latin dances, which proved to be a step too far for Audley Harrison.

“He has something insane like a size 16 foot and would have done himself an ankle injury with his boxer’s physique. He was like, ‘I’ll just have to stand here and move my bum instead’.”

Natalie is adamant no dirty tricks come into play – that is saved for the tour, with James Jordan the worst culprit.

In one paso doble, the group started in the dark with Natalie and Kristina facing each other wearing capes, and James sat just underneath them.

She explains: “Unknown to us, James had tied our capes together. We were strangling each other and couldn’t move.”

Natalie is overjoyed the show is going ahead, adding: “The world needs to have sparkle in it.”