Racy Strictly costume is a leap from the sofa, admits ITV’S Charlotte
TV dance contestants at odds over revealing outfits as Debbie Mcgee reveals tribute to late husband
AS A television news presenter, Charlotte Hawkins sticks to the style rules: demure knee-length dresses without a hint of sparkle.
Her costumes on Strictly Come Dancing are another matter. The Good Morning Britain star has admitted to feeling anxious about the revealing outfits she will wear when the BBC One show returns tonight.
“I’m going from a news studio where it’s quite conservative to wearing what is essentially a swimming costume,” said Hawkins.
Hemlines were lowered last year to protect the contestants’ modesty, following criticism that the bare midriffs and Lycra cut-outs were making the show too tacky.
While Hawkins still appeared to have reservations about the hemlines, fellow contestant Debbie Mcgee had no such qualms, meeting the press in a low-cut jumpsuit. “If you can’t wear it now, when can you?” she laughed.
Mcgee is no stranger to glamorous costumes, after years as assistant to her husband, Paul Daniels, on his television magic show. “The costumes are a bit of a second skin to me.
“For 15 years on TV I used to have three or four evening dresses made a year. There is nothing like the Strictly experience – it’s so much more than just learning to dance, dressing up and having your hair and make-up done.”
Mcgee said she would be dancing in tribute to Daniels, who died last year and appeared on the show in 2010. “I have to go on, life is different and I just have to find another way of being happy,” she said.
Susan Calman, the comedian and Radio 4 presenter, said: “We are wearing quite revealing outfits and doing quite sexy dances. My self-confidence isn’t hugely high so I want to be able to just enjoy it.”
Meanwhile, the Rev Richard Coles, radio presenter, former member of pop band The Communards and the first vicar to take part in Strictly, is embracing the style code with gusto.
“I’ve known for about six months that I was doing Strictly. It’s been a long run-up. Then all of a sudden it’s here and I’m having to exfoliate for my first spray tan and glitter keeps falling out of my pants. I found half a sequin on my dog yesterday,” he said.
The wardrobe mistresses on the show are even making him a “pimped up” dog collar to wear as – or if – he progresses on the show. Fellow contestants describe him as the “dark horse” in the competition.
The pro-celebrity ballroom contest returns for a live show tonight, in which the contestants will be paired with their professional partners. The show will open with a dance tribute to Sir Bruce Forsyth, who died last month.
Jonnie Peacock, the Paralympic gold medallist, is the show’s first disabled dancer. He said: “There is a high chance that many amputees are much better at dancing than I am. Hopefully people at home won’t laugh too much.”
The contest will begin in earnest on September 23.
‘I’m having to exfoliate and glitter keeps falling out of my pants. I found half a sequin on my dog’