‘There was a huge amount of hilarity’
As new eight-part series The Real Dirty Dancing arrives on E4, Danielle de Wolfe rounds up the show’s celebrity contestants. When it comes to classic one-liners from the world of cinema, “nobody puts Baby in the corner” is undoubtedly among the most memorable.
Released in 1987, Dirty Dancing combines iconic dance routines with unparalleled levels of romance, as Frances “Baby” Houseman finds herself falling for dance instructor Johnny Castle whilst visiting a holiday camp with her family.
Now though, it’s a film viewers are set to see in a whole new light, as 10 celebrities prepare to have the time of their lives, channelling their inner Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze as part of E4’s brand new show, The Real Dirty Dancing.
Co-hosted by Dirty Dancing superfan, Keith Lemon, and
Pussycat Doll, Ashley Roberts, the series follows the group as they step into a world filled with fierce dance moves, treacherous lifts, and plenty of sexual tension.
Battling it out to be crowned the last Baby and Johnny standing, each contestant is set to compete in a range of challenges, re-creating iconic scenes including the Mambo dance and Hungry Eyes in a bid to take on the iconic final lift.
Ahead of the series airing this next week, we discover more from the show’s celebrity line-up.
ANTHEA TURNER, 61
Television presenter Anthea Turner is best known for her stints on Blue Peter and GMTV. Describing herself as a “big fan” of the film, she says the training and group dances were “incredibly fun”.
“There was a huge amount of hilarity, which I think spilled over to the way that we all feel about the programme – and that came most definitely from Keith and Ashley. We were all there having this surreal experience together.”
LEE RYAN, 38
Best known for hitting the high notes and representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest as part of multi-platinum selling boyband Blue, Ryan says that recreating the iconic dirty dancing water lift was a “great” experience but “really hard” to pull off. “I always turn around and say I went out second in Strictly, so I can’t have been that good! But I’ve danced all my life with Blue. I was definitely trying to get that Patrick intensity into the dancing because that is what the whole thing’s about.”
JAMES ARGENT, 34
Towie star James Argent describes the opportunity to take part in the show as “too good to be true”.
“If I’m being honest, it doesn’t particularly come naturally to me, being Johnny. I’m not necessarily very poor. I wasn’t a professional trained dancer. But the whole point of the show is you’ve really got to become him and get into character and truly believe you are him.”
MARNIE SIMPSON, 30
First grabbing the nation’s attention as part of hit MTV reality show Geordie Shore, the Newcastle-born personality describes The Real Dirty Dancing as a “really exciting” experience that was “way outside” her comfort zone.
SAFFRON BARKER, 21
Dancing out of the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom and onto the set of The Real Dirty Dancing, YouTube star Saffron Barker says she now takes “any opportunity” to get her dancing shoes on.
“I am such a big fan of the movie Dirty Dancing that I just
had to do it,” says Barker. “I will probably cringe watching myself back because you will see how awkward I felt. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever, ever looked so awkward in my whole life.”
DARREN HARRIOTT, 33
Stand-up comedian Darren Harriott says he’s “not really a dancer” but was more than up for donning his dancing shoes and channelling his inner Patrick Swayze as part of the show.
VERONA ROSE, 28
Best known for co-creating and starring in BBC Three comedy Fully Blown, alongside appearances in Dating No Filter and 8 out of 10 Cats, actress Verona Rose describes The Real Dirty Dancing as “bringing a childhood dream to reality”. “I’m a terrible dancer, and I wanted to try and learn, just try and do something a bit different, try and learn some dance moves… “
TOM MALONE JR, 26
A world away from his family’s sofa on Channel 4 show Gogglebox, dancer Tom Malone Jr describes The Real Dirty Dancing as a “new experience”, admitting his background may prove an advantage when it comes to channelling his inner Patrick Swayze. “My mum used to love Dirty Dancing. I think everyone’s mum loves Dirty Dancing, right? Obviously, I’ve always been a dancer, but I specialise in breaking, so I’m normally dancing upside down. I like challenges, so it was a bit of a challenge for me.”
BOBBY SEAGULL, 38
Appearing on quiz show University Challenge in 2017, alongside being both a mathematics teacher and writer, Bobby Seagull is taking on an altogether different test this time around. “If you put me on a dance floor, I always move,” says Seagull. “I’ll never be like, “Oh, I’m shy. I’m a bit scared.” I’ll always give it a go. There’s no competence but there’s a lot of enthusiasm.”
CHELSEE HEALEY, 33
Best known for playing Janeece Bryant in school-based drama Waterloo Road, alongside appearances in Casualty and Hollyoaks, Healey describes Dirty Dancing as a “feel-good film” that remains one of her “alltime favourites”. “You just have to bring it, don’t you? You’ve just got to play along with it. I just tried to get in the character of Baby. I hope it comes across well.”
‘I was definitely trying to get that
Patrick intensity’