Faye on Strictly pressures & Everyone s a rival.. this year it’s tough But Ant’s ex Lisa is a secret weapon
FAYE Tozer may have won over fans and become the bookies’ fave but she is not putting up a shelf for the glitterball just yet.
The Steps star reckons the competition in this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing is so tight any of the stars taking part could go on to win.
“Everyone is a rival right now,” she said. “The show is wide open. Everyone is working so hard, the music is amazing, the choreography is amazing. I think it’s a high standard this year.”
In an exclusive interview today Faye, 42, also tells of how her secret weapon is proving to be help from Ant Mcpartlin’s ex wife Lisa, who works as a make-up artist on the show.
She also rubbishes claims she has an unfair advantage because of her time in Steps. And she reveals her confidence in her body and look has grown since joining the BBC show.
The singer, partnered with pro Giovanni Pernice, 28, has already topped the leaderboard. And she says the team at Strictly – including Lisa, 41 – make her feel she can do anything. “What helps is we spend hours in hair and make-up and the team are the best in the business,” Faye said.
“All the girls really know how to make you feel the best version of yourself, I’m loving it. I’m feeling fighting fit and quite strong. I feel like I am happy to be on stage and on telly, especially in these beautiful dresses.”
Embracing the sequins and skimpy outfits, Faye says she has been asking the wardrobe team to enhance certain areas of her physique. She said: “What’s great is you can have a smaller waist, bigger boobs, whatever you want. It’s amazing. So I’ve asked for both of those things!
“We have all got hang-ups about our bodies. You have massive pants that suck you in in the right places, there’s so much construction underneath, even with dresses that look skimpy. It makes you feel safe, you move around so much they don’t want things slipping or falling, everything is tucked in.
“I am loving the outfits. It’s like having a dressing up box but done really well! When they handed me my first costume I was like, ‘Oh, where’s the rest of it?’.
“So I went out on week one with a very brave costume which really broke the ice for me. The styles of dance are so different, which means the dresses will be too, it’s so exciting. I just relish it all.”
Hit by claims of a fix over her experience with Steps as soon as she was revealed as part of the line-up, Faye – who performed the foxtrot to Bruno Mars’ Just The Way You Are last night – has insisted there is no comparison between the dance moves she learned in the band and the ones she is being taught now.
She said: “I’m known for throwing shapes with Steps but this is a new ball game. There are so many details in the techniques for each dance. You find muscles you never knew you had.
“It takes me about a day to learn the routine, the actual dance, which isn’t tricky. But then to nail down the style and technique is tough. I’m used to doing more hand choreography rather than using my feet!
“I feel it’s a little bit like being a swan, you have to make everything up top look elegant but then your feet are going like the clappers.” Mum-of-two Faye, who is married to IT specialist Michael Smith, says
Strictly has taken over her life – just