KYM: DANCING FOR DYING DAD

Star urged to just go for it

KYM Marsh is doing Strictly in honour of her terminally ill dad.

Seeing her beloved David find out that he had incurable prostate cancer made her want to seize the day even more.

In a heart-to-heart, Kym told the Daily Star Sunday: “I have been offered Strictly before and I never thought it was the right time.

“But then my dad got diagnosed with untreatable cancer last March and I’ve just decided to grab everything while I can.

“His diagnosis does change things. It makes you look at things differently.”

The 46-year-old added: “He told me for years, ‘You never know what’s round the corner, so grab things with both hands.’

“But you don’t think about that until an event happens.

“Without being melancholy, we don’t know how long we’ve got him for, so you’ve got to make the most of those situations.”

Kym’s husband Scott Ratcliff is an Army major who puts his life on the line for his country, so that has also brought things into perspective for her. She said: “I’m married to a soldier and this year he’s here but next year he might be deployed.”

Former Corrie star Kym plans to give Strictly her all to make her lovedones proud. And she is hoping her upbeat attitude will give hope to people going through tough times.

She said: “It would be great if we could inspire others and encourage people to do things out of their comfort zone.” Kym is also hoping to inspire other grandparents not to let age stop them doing what they want.

The star became a grandmother at the age of just 42 when her daughter Emilie Mae Cunliffe had a boy in 2019.

Kym said: “I’m doing this for the grannies. I love being a grandma.”

There are just six days until the first live show.

Kym, who is one of the outsiders with the bookies at 14/1, spoke about the gruelling training.

She said: “We’re under no illusion, it’s hard work.

“We did a bit for the group dance and to say I was a sweaty mess would be an understatement. Everything is hurting.”