Louise: I’d Strictly love a shot at West End stardom
LOUISE Redknapp last night revealed she hopes her spell on Strictly Come Dancing will lead to a shot at West End stardom.
Speaking before she took to the stage for last night’s live semi-finals, the former singer with 1990s girl group Eternal said: ‘I never came into Strictly to look for a job offer.
‘But a musical is the one thing I have never done in my career, and most probably the one thing – if the offer was ever there – I would find really hard to not experience.’
Mother-of-two Louise, 49, who is married to former England footballer Jamie Redknapp, added: ‘I love singing and I love music, and now that I can do a bit of quickstep and stuff, I can put it all to good use.’
Louise, whose inhibited performances earlier in the series drew criticism from all four Strictly judges, was an underdog to win this year’s competition but is now regarded as a favourite after a series of spectacular dances.
She and her partner Kevin Clifton have performed a series of risque routines, including one themed around the TV drama Game Of Thrones. Last night the couple danced a tango and a samba.
‘The biggest challenge was going out there and not being inhibited and not holding back,’ Louise said.
Last night’s show also featured a spectacular entrance by BBC sports reporter Ore Oduba, 29, aboard a motorbike.
Ore was top of last night’s leaderboard with a combined score of 77 points. Louise was joint bottom with Claudia Fragapane on 73, while Danny Mac’s combined score was 76.