Strictly Ellie: I never saw anyone like me on TV
PARALYMPIC swimming champ Ellie Simmonds has no idea how she will “grab” her Strictly Come Dancing partner, but is looking forward to finding out.
And she’s emotional about her fans’ response to her groundbreaking appearance – being the first person like her on the show.
The 4ft star, who has achondroplasia dwarfism, isn’t sure how the dances will work with an average-sized pro dancer.
“It’s new. How am I going to grab him, I mean hold him?” she laughs. “We’ll just see.
“My partner will never have danced with an individual who has dwarfism and I’ve never danced in my life so how are we going to work it out? It’s the unknown.”
Ellie, 27, who retired from swimming last year, signed up for Strictly because, growing up, she never saw anyone like her on TV.
The winner of five Paralympic golds was tearful over the big response from fans. She said: “It gets me emotional. I’m the first individual with dwarfism to do it in the
UK. When I was a kid, if I’d seen someone with dwarfism doing a dancing show on a Saturday night, it would just be something so special. Dancing is for all, everyone can dance. “If I can dance, and it’s different, then anyone can try it. Doing it for those people is just a huge, huge honour.”
Ellie said her boyfriend Matt Dean was fully behind her decision to take part: “He was like ‘go for it Ellie, take that leap of faith, you don’t know unless you try’. I’m so happy I said ‘yes’. As soon as I did we were bouncing around the kitchen like little buzzing bees.” She has also received advice from American actress Terra Jolé, who has dwarfism and competed in Dancing with the Stars in 2016.
“Terra did it in America and she’s been so lovely, she’s messaged me and given me help and hints on how to do it,” she says.
In tonight’s launch on BBC1, Ellie will be joined by 14 other celebrities as they are matched with their professional partners and perform a group dance.
Among them is Countryfile presenter Helen Skelton, 39, who has split from Leeds Rhinos Rugby League star Richie Myler.
Talking about the recent marriage heart-break, she said she’s taking part to cheer herself up.
She adds: “It was a chance for my family to see me smiling. I wanted to do something fun.”