STRICTLY RETURNS
She’s making history on the Strictly stage
‘I’ll be giving 110 per cent in everything I do’
There’s nothing quite like the sparkle of Strictly Come Dancing, so we can all say a silent thank you to the showbiz gods that it is back on our screens in a matter of days. We were lucky enough to chat to this year’s cohort as they got to grips with fake tan and sequins, as well as their new bubbles.
Nicola Adams, 37, may have already broken plenty of records in her career as a boxer, but she will also be making Strictly history as part of the first same-sex pairing on the show. It was revealed last week that Nicola’s professional partner will be Katya Jones. In our chat with the athlete, she told us why it means so much to be representing her community.
Why was it so important to you to be paired with a female professional dancer? For diversity. I wanted to do something different, and I didn’t see what the big deal would be with them pairing me with another female. I mean, we go to nightclubs where girls dance with girls all the time, and professional dancers dance with girls all the time. I don’t think it’s a big deal. Do you think it will make a difference to young viewers? Definitely. It’s really good for the younger generation to be able to see somebody from the LGBTQ+ community and think to themselves, “That could be me one day, dancing on Strictly.” You’re a competitive person – are you in it to win it? I’m super-competitive. I want to be in the final, so I’ll be working as hard as I can to make that happen. But if not, I’ll be giving 110 per cent in everything I do, so then I don’t mind if I fall short. Are you hoping your boxing will help you on the dance floor? I hope so. I’ll have the fitness side down, I’m quite light on my feet and I’m used to being on my toes. So, I’m hoping that gives me a little bit of an advantage.
Thirty-two-yearold Max George is hoping to emulate the success of his friend and former bandmate Jay Mcguiness, who won Strictly in 2015, but tells us he’s not feeling the pressure. “Jay was always a top dancer,” he says. “In the audition process [for The Wanted], I nearly didn’t get in because of dancing! So, I won’t be comparing myself. If he can give me any tips, then great.”
Aside from the actual dancing part, Max admits it will be strange to be away from his girlfriend Stacey Giggs and her two kids. “I think with this year – literally being together all the time – it is a bit of a shock to the system, but we’re both just excited to see what happens.”