JAMES AND OLA JORDAN The news is out – and the former Strictly Come Dancing stars give their verdict on this year’s pairings
REVEAL THE COUPLES TO WATCH AS THIS YEAR’S SERIES GETS UNDER WAY
If anyone knows the secrets of how to triumph on Strictly Come Dancing it’s former show favourites – and hello! columnists – James and Ola Jordan, who have high hopes for this year’s celebrity line-up.
Looking forward to three months of dancefloor drama after the series launch last weekend, the couple believe this year is shaping up to be one of the most entertaining yet – and that it will be full of surprises.
“The more I look at the line-up, it’s actually a very exciting year,” says James. “There will definitely be someone who’s going to shock us, someone who’ll be disappointing. You’re going to have your frontrunners, people in the middle of the pack and a few at the bottom.” James and Ola will be sharing their insights and predictions in their weekly column for hello! online and have high hopes for
Coronation Street’s Katie McGlynn and
EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis, who is making history as the show’s first deaf contestant and is partnered with Giovanni Pernice.
“I’m really interested to see Rose,” says James. “I’m interested to see how she interprets the music because she’s probably going to feel it through sense. As a dancer, I’m quite excited to see how that’s going to work.
“If I was on the show, I’d want Rose as my partner, purely because it’s the first time and you’d get so much satisfaction out of someone like her doing the show and creating something beautiful. I think it could be very emotional.”
Ola adds: “It’s challenging for both of them – not only for her, but also for Giovanni. It’s a nice challenge.”
FANCY FOOTWORK
Strictly’s first ever all- male pairing – chef and former The Great British Bake Off champion John Whaite and dancer Johannes Radebe – could also do well, say the couple, but they think McFly singer Tom Fletcher, who is paired with Amy Dowden, has big shoes to fill after his bandmate Harry Judd won the coveted Glitterball trophy in 2011.
“Tom should have rhythm, but he’s got a lot to live up to with Harry being so amazing,” says James. “In my opinion, he was one of the best guys
and Tom is going to be compared to him. It’s tough for Tom, I think.”
Possible dark horses include actors Greg Wise and Robert Webb, they add, while Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty and former rugby union star Ugo Monye have several physical advantages.
“Ugo looks very fit and strong and Adam is good-looking – he could just stand still and get tens couldn’t he?” James says, laughing. “If I was him doing the show, I just wouldn’t wear clothes.
You’d get the public vote, wouldn’t you?”
DANCING UP A STORM
Having a mix of contestants with a range of abilities, including some with previous dance training, is important, James continues.
“As soon as I see the first show, it’s very easy to tell who’s had training,” he tells us. “It’s the way people move and certain things they do that have to be taught. You can’t just pick it up in a couple of weeks.
“We do need people who’ve had dance training on the show. If everyone hadn’t danced before, it could be really bad. You don’t want 15 Ann Widdecombes, do you?”
They are also looking forward to their 19-month-old daughter Ella watching Strictly with them this year.
“Ella watched a bit last year, but she wasn’t really interested,” James says. “This year, she’ll take more notice. She loves dancing.”
Don’t miss James and Ola’s Strictly Come Dancing column every Sunday on hellomagazine.com, following the first live show on BBC1 this Saturday.
‘ I’d want Rose
as my partner. I think it could be
very emotional’