Kym: I’m inspired by brave Dad’s cancer battle
FORMER Coronation Street star Kym Marsh has told how her dad’s diagnosis of incurable cancer inspired her to take on the challenge of Strictly Come Dancing.
Kym is among a host of celebrities – including TV presenter Helen Skelton and actor Will Mellor – in this year’s BBC One series, and she has pledged “to grab things with both hands” following advice from her beloved father.
She also said she wants to represent “glamorous grannies” after becoming a grandmother for the second time last month.
And Helen Skelton, renowned for her havea-go antics on Countryfile and Blue Peter, said she can’t wait to swap her wellies for the glitzy dancing show.
Also appearing in the series, which launches on Friday, are James Bye, Molly Rainford, Kaye Adams, Richie Anderson, Jayde Adams, Ellie Simmonds, Tyler West, Matt Goss, Ellie Taylor, Tony Adams, Fleur East and Hamza Yassin.
Kym’s father David, 77, was diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer after a delay in getting a check up during the pandemic.
She said she had been asked to appear on the show before but “never thought it was the right time”. But she explained: “My dad got diagnosed with untreatable cancer last March and I’ve just decided to give everything while I can.without being melancholy, we don’t know how long we’ve got him for, so you’ve got to make the most of the situations.
“[His] diagnosis does change things. My dad told me, ‘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. It makes you look at things differently.”
The timing is also perfect as her soldier husband Major Scott Ratcliff is currently in the UK and can support her.
She said: “I’m married to a soldier and this year he’s here. Next year he might be deployed.
He might not be at every show because there will be a lot of people wanting to come, but he’ll be with me every weekend because that’s when we see each other.”
Kym became a music star after being picked as a member of the group Hear’say, created by reality ITV show Popstars in 2001. She added: “I am doing this for the grannies!”
Helen, 39, a mother-of-three, signed up for the series after announcing her split from her husband of eight years, rugby player Richie Myler in April.
She said: “Going into make-up and wardrobe as a grown woman is like going into a sweet shop as a kid. I was in there trying on shoes and I was like, ‘oh my God, what is this?’
“This is a show, more than ever, where your family can get really excited. My mum has never ever talked about my work as much as she has over the last couple of weeks.”