Kelvin: ‘I can’t wait to ask a nan for a waltz’
Our king of samba on his epic Strictly journey
Fate is a funny old thing. Three months ago, Kelvin Fletcher was better known as Andy Sugden off of Emmerdale – but then Strictly came calling. Incredibly, Kelvin was brought in at the 11th hour to replace Jamie Laing – who’d been forced to pull out with a foot injury – only to display a level of hip shaking that made Shirley (and Bruno) lose her Ballas. Instantly, a star was born, and Kelvin and his partner Oti Mabuse became one of the most popular pairings ever.
Oti describes Kelvin’s lastminute entry as “an adventure”, telling us she spent their first few days balancing barking orders with getting to know him. “It was like, ‘Step, step, step… how many kids do you have? Step, step, step… where are you from?’” she laughs.
Speaking to heat, Kelvin tells us it’s been the ride of his life…
What’s Strictly been like for you? I was already a huge Strictly fan. I watched it at home for years and always thought, “I’d love to do that.” I’m a huge believer in challenging yourself – and what better way to do that than in front of 11million people, learning new steps and having spray tans? It’s changed my life. Are you sad, now that it’s over? Yeah. Before doing the show, I had no idea about its impact on people’s lives. I just feel so privileged to have been a part of that and I’m sad to see that go. And, honestly, working with Oti was unbelievable – talent-wise, she blew my mind every week.
Was it hard to be away from your family so much [Kelvin and his wife Liz have two children, Marnie, three, and one-year-old Milo]? It’s not easy to leave your partner at home, holding down the fort. But what I had to compromise, that made those moments a little sweeter when we were back together at home and could watch the show together on a Sunday. Will dancing be a part of your life from now on? Definitely. I can’t wait to go to a ballroom do, see an old dear and ask her to dance. I’d love to ask a nan to do a real waltz, like a real gentleman. ■
‘Oti blew my mind every week’