Will Mellor couldn't help but make a cheeky quip about Kym Marsh as they sat down for a string of interviews about their upcoming appearance on Strictly Come Dancing. The Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps actor and former Coronation Street star will be donning their dancing shoes from this week.
The pair are among the 15 celebrities making up this year's line-up. The hit BBC One show was set to return to screens on Saturday night (September 17). However, the broadcaster took the decision to postpone following the Queen's death.
Strictly 2022 will now begin this Friday, September 23, at 7pm with the launch show, which was pre-recorded earlier this month, and the first live show will follow the following day, taking place on Saturday, September 24.
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The 15 celebrities on the line-up were officially announced in full last month and includes Will, Kym, presenter Helen Skelton and singer Matt Goss and last weekend, fans got to see them in their full Strictly glam for the first time.
Singer and actress Kym, who starred in Corrie as Michelle Connor for 13 years before bowing out of Weatherfield in 2019, donned a plunging orange dress with, of course, sparkling details all over and a tasseled trim. Meanwhile Countryfile host Helen looked worlds away from her usual job for the BBC as she opted for a bright floral patterned minidress with a slinky strap and other shoulder detailing.
Will ditched the glitter - for now - an appeared in a white shirt under a powder blue waistcoast which was paired with marching trousers.
As for Kym, when speaking to press including OK! about joining the show, Kym, who recently became a grandma for the second time and is known to her grandkids as 'Ya Ya', admitted she was "delighted" to be repping the grandmothers. She declared: "I'm delighted to be repping the grandmas, thank you very much, very very pleased with that. It's about time a grandma won!"
To which Will joked: "Is there such thing as a GILF?" with Kym left laughing over the remark as she quipped: "That's on my CV!"
Previously talking about her reasons for signing up, Kym, 46, said: "I’ve considered doing Strictly for years but the timings never worked out. I’m so delighted that this year they have! I’m a huge fan of the show and can’t believe I’m going to go from watching at home in my pyjamas to actually dancing in front of the judges in a glittery dress, it’s unreal!"
And she and former Corrie star Will, who played Harvey Gaskell in the ITV soap, share similar reasons for taking part. Speaking to press, Kym revealed that her dad, Dave, is terminally ill, explaining: "My dad is not very well with cancer and he’s not going to get better. I want to grab life and just do things while I can.
"I've been asked over the years as well and it never felt like the time was right for me to do. Then this year it came up and I'm married to a military man as you know, and at the minute, he's based in the country, but next year, he might be deployed again. "
While Will said he wanted to grab life by the horns and take on the Strictly challenge, and for a very heartwarming reason. "Losing my dad has changed everything," the 46-year-old, whose father died in 2020, said.
"He was my hero and my best mate, and it just changes you, it really does. I would easily say no to stuff just because I’d be so worried about what everyone else would think, and then you realise all that’s nonsense when you lose someone like that.
"Just thought: I’ve got to say yes to more things and create memories – that’s what life’s about, get out of your comfort zone. And my mum, it’s one of her favourite shows, she’s had the worst few years ever so it’s nice to do something positive. She can’t wait."
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