Darcey: ‘I can’t wait for eight!’

DARCEY Bussell will be waltzing back to the BBC ballroom for her eighth stint on the judging panel.

She said: “I’ll be back. I want to keep doing the show. It’s a celebration of dance and that’s what I promote. I try to fit all my other jobs around it.”

Darcey loves seeing the effect Strictly has on its celebrity contestants.

She added: “The celebs always tell me how the show has changed their lives. They say how wonderful it’s been and they didn’t realise it would make them feel so different.

“I’m always trying to sell the idea of dance to people. So it’s lovely to hear when someone enjoys it. They work so hard and it pays off.”

Shirley Ballas has already revealed she’ll be back on the panel for the new series.

Her fellow judges Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood are also expected to return.

Strictly regularly gives its contestants a career boost. Stars including last year’s winner Stacey Dooley and Anita Rani have become household names after dancing on TV.

Former competitors Louis Smith, Aston Merrygold, Harry Judd and Jay McGuiness are now wowing the crowds in new West End show Rip It Up.

Darcey saw the show at London’s Garrick Theatre last week and was impressed by their routines.

She said: “They are loving every minute of their dancing careers. It’s wonderful to see.”