FAYE TOZER, 43
Despite being part of 90s dance pop group Steps, the singer admits she had “no idea it was going to be this hard”.
Faye says she was shocked by how punishing the training regime becomes.
“You just don’t realise how much goes into it. The craft of it, how much your body goes through to get those performances at the end of the week.
“And the emotional ride as well – you put yourself under so much pressure for the live show. The results show is horrendous – really scary.”
But Faye never dreamed she would be asked to join the show’s line-up.
“Doing Strictly, being an over-40s working mum, was just one of those things I thought I’ll never be able to experience.
“It has just been mind-blowing. I think
I’m gonna look back on Strictly with such pride.” However, she has struggled with more injuries than most.
“I don’t know if it’s because I’m particularly clumsy or I bruise like a peach. I just shred my body and I’m not getting any younger.”
She is now keen to get back to musical theatre but has no plans to keep dancing at this level.
“To actually do 12 hours of dancing a day is not only crazy but impossible to keep up. We all need to sleep!” Her partner Giovanni Pernice says he was thrilled to be paired with Faye, who now lives in South Tyneside. “She has put 100% into this and has left her family to come into London, that’s a lot. “We’re delivering really amazing dances.” Faye and Giovanni