Strictly Debbie: How I stay in shape at 58
Strictly star’s secret behind body
DEBBIE McGee has revealed the secret of her sensational Strictly body – a spot of gardening.
The 58-year-old left millions of BBC viewers spellbound by her steamy paso doble that included several outrageous high-kicks and even the splits.
And the widow of magician Paul Daniels, who is the oldest contestant on the BBC show, reckons her fitness is down to her horticultural skills.
Speaking of how she prepares for the rigours of Strictly, she said: “Gardening keeps me trim, as does Pilates and yoga three to four times a week.”
Debbie, who is now favourite to win the dance contest, also has extensive physiotherapy to get her body used to the show’s demands. But after Saturday’s dance with partner Giovanni Pernice to the movie track Be Italian, she admitted: “My body is feeling that it was flung around last night. I was sent to the physio who gave my back a jolly good massage.”
Debbie, who got a place at the Royal Ballet School when she was 16, said earlier this month: “It was more than 30 years ago when I last danced and you can’t do things with an older body like you did when you were 20.” But her efforts certainly impressed the judges who gave her high first score of 30.
That included an eight from Craig Revel Horwood who told her she “looked like a 20-year-old” on the dancefloor. Darcey Bussell said Debbie was “on fire” and Bruno Tonioli compared her performance in her sizzling red gown to a spicy arrabiata pasta sauce.
Debbie even stunned Giovanni by giving him a kiss on the mouth – which she insisted was purely impulsive. She added: “It was a little bit cheeky and naughty. I don’t think Giovanni has recovered.” Debbie revealed her rehearsal had been a disaster but that she got into the “zone” after watching a documentary backstage. She added: “I watched a fantastic programme about Graham Hill the racing driver.” And she also told how appearing on Strictly had made her “genuinely happy” for the first time since Paul’s death in March last year from a brain tumour at the age of 77. He was also a contestant on the show in 2010.
Ladbrokes and Coral slashed their odds on Debbie to win from 20/1 to 7/1 and William Hill from 20/1 to 6/1.
The first live episode of Strictly beat its ITV rival X Factor in the ratings by more than four million viewers. It was seen by an average of 9.3 million viewers and peaked at 10.2 million. X Factor was watched by an average 4.8 million and a peak of six million.
It was a bit cheeky. I don’t think Giovanni has yet recovered DEBBIE ON HER KISS WITH PARTNER DURING DANCE