Debbie Mcgee on how dancing is curing her grief
Strictly returns
Ikeep pinching myself that I’m taking part in
Strictly – it’s just the best experience and I’m loving every minute, although your brain often feels addled. When Paul did it, I was always dropping hints that I’d like to do it too. But if he was here now I don’t know how I’d cope with coming home and cooking his dinner – he’d have me working on another three projects as well as Strictly.
My professional partner is 27-year-old Italian Giovanni Pernice, who was the runner-up with Georgia May Foote in 2015. We’ve really hit it off and he’s pushing me that extra bit and teaching me more than just the steps.
When the class of 2017 first met, we had to do a little test and the ladies had to take it in turns to dance with all of the male professionals. That’s when I realised that I wanted Giovanni. Even though there’s a huge age difference, we both seem to like the same kind of music, such as Lionel Richie, and we both like musicals.
There’s an amazing camaraderie between the contestants, but also a lot of caring. It doesn’t feel like a competition yet… it will be interesting to see if that changes as the pressure piles on.
It was more than 30 years ago when I last danced and I can safely say that you can’t do things with an older body like you did when you were 20. Ballroom doesn’t relate to the ballet that I did before in any shape or form. It’s not been a struggle exactly, but it’s certainly been a push.
Because I’m slim, people think I’m really fit but I haven’t got a lot of cardio fitness, so Giovanni has sent me to the gym for 15 minutes a day. I don’t think anyone is naturally thin. There have been times over the years when Paul’s been injured – once he chopped his finger off! – and I was at home nursing him and didn’t get out and about. Then I put weight on. At the moment I’m hungry all the time. I woke up last night and had peanut butter on toast at 12.30am!
Gio can’t believe how quickly I pick up the steps. In the Nineties, there was a tribute show to Barbara Windsor. Someone dropped out at the very last minute and I learnt the whole routine in 10 minutes, so I know I can pick steps up.
On Saturday we’re
Gio can’t believe how quickly I’m picking it up
dancing a Paso Doble to Fergie’s Be Italian – it’s a powerful song and really gets into my soul. I can’t wait to do this dance – it’s so un-me. I’m dancing with a tambourine, and I’ve been rehearsing in a big skirt as I don’t find out what my dress is like until today.
This week I’ve been rehearsing in London in the same studio as Alexandra Burke and Aston Merrygold, so we’ve been having lunch together. We’ve shown each other our dances, and theirs are really good.
I’ve seen most of the male dancers without their tops on already! These guys are amazing. Giovanni and Gorka (Marquez) went to the gym before training for eight hours. They all stay happy and don’t switch off – they go home and choreograph and decide what music to use. Gio will send me a message at 10pm saying: “What about this piece of music?”
I hope I get as far as Blackpool – it’s very special to me as I did a summer show at the Opera House with Paul that was really successful. It was such a happy time and would be so nice to go back. I want to go a long way as I think it will be inspiring for people my age. I’m 59 on Hallowe’en so, if I’m still in the competition, it will be quite an achievement.
As told to Rachel Ward
In the first of her weekly behind-thescenes reports, the ‘Strictly’ contestant aims to prove that age is no barrier