Stacey: ‘They’ll be asking me back as a Strictly pro!’
The people’s champion talks to heat about finding her dancing feet
Seann Walsh snogged his partner, Faye Tozer made racking up the 10s look easy, Dr Ranj juggled training with his day job as an NHS doctor… But let’s be honest, this year’s Strictly belonged to one person and one person alone – Stacey Dooley.
From the moment the 31 year old took her place on the ballroom floor, full of self-deprecating one-liners and down-to-earth bants, she and pro partner Kevin Clifton stole the show
– and the nation’s hearts – and cemented their position as the people’s winners, regardless of the final result.
Speaking to heat about her, gulp, “Strictly journey”, Stacey says it’s defied all her expectations, especially as she went in thinking it would be a relatively laid-back gig. “It’s been hard, but so worthwhile,” she tells us. “I totally underestimated it in terms of workload. I’ve been asked to do different shows over the years, but I always said Strictly was the only one I’d do, as it’s classy – it’s not cheap. So, this year, I thought, ‘Great! I’ll be in the UK for a few months, I’ll stop before Christmas, I’ll dance for four hours a day – yeah, perfect.’ Well, no. You train for 12 hours a day, you’re in bits, you’re driving yourself crazy. But I really didn’t realise I’d love it this much – I just love ballroom dancing.
“Sometimes, Kev’s walked in and I’m making tea or whatever, and I’m watching ballroom dancing or Shirley Ballas performing in the 1980s on my phone like a complete lunatic!”
Before donning her dance shoes, Stacey was mostly known for her hard-hitting documentaries on the beeb. And while she has no intention of giving up her day job, she tells us it’s been nice to show the public a different side of her. (Kevin calls it “hyper”, to which she cuts in, “He means a massive idiot!”)
“I suppose one of the reasons I did Strictly was to show my lighter side,” Stacey says. “Yes, I’m a documentary maker who makes serious programmes, but I’m a young girl who enjoys the entertainment side of things, too. I suppose
I’d keep doing both in an ideal world.”
As for her plans for next year, she tells us it’s going to be a busy 2019. “Well, we’re heading on the Strictly tour and I’ve got more documentaries planned. But I’ve also got to take into consideration that Strictly producers are probably going to ask me to be a professional next year, so from September to about December, I’ll be wrapped up in that.”
In the words of dearly departed Brucie: Stace, you’re our favourite. ■
‘I really didn’t realise I’d love doing it so much’