Joe’s made it all the way to the dance final
His rise to stardom
He is one of the favourites to lift Strictly Come Dancing’s coveted Giltterball, but Joe McFadden’s first piece of publicity was in the Rutherglen Reformer.
The 42-year-old actor won a place in the finals on Sunday night, but his rise to stardom was first recorded in the Reformer when he was just 12 years old.
A pupil at Holyrood High School, Joe’s first television role was in hit cop series, Taggart.
He played the son of one of the leading characters in the episode Root of Evil, which aired in September, 1988.
Last year, Joe tweeted his first picture in the Reformer and just two weeks ago returned to his Govanhill school.
He was filmed with his dance partner Katya Jones meeting his former drama teacher and rehearsing in front of pupils.
That practise paid off as he and Katya were revealed as one of the four couples in the finals.
“I can’t believe it,” he said. “Thank you to everyone who voted for us, you’re amazing, it’s a dream come true, it really is.
“When we started I didn’t even know my left and right and now look where we are and it’s all down to this one, Katya.
“It’s the most amazing feeling in the world.”
The duo are now the bookies favourite to win the competition, ahead of Gemma Atkinson, Debbie McGee and Alexandra Burke.
Katya added: “I really think he can do it. He has come so far and as a team we work so well, I’m just so proud of him. I’m so excited.”
Joe is rehearsing for Strictly Come Dancing whilst starring in BBC One’s Holby City and Casualty. Since his Holyrood school days he has also appeared in shows such as Heartbeat, Take the High Road and The Crow Road.