Dance hopeful Kaye Adams has been inspired by clips of Strictly laughing stock Ann Widdecombe.
The Loose Women favourite has been picking up tips by studying YouTube footage of the former Tory politician.
Ann, now 74, was one of Strictly’s most memorable contestants. Her dances with Anton Du Beke had viewers in stitches.
She wore a yellow feathery dress for her hilarious samba, which scored just 13. But she survived until week 10, despite withering put-downs and low scores from acid-tongued judge Craig Revel Horwood who called her a “dancing hippo”.
Scot Kaye said: “I’ve watched all her performances, on several occasions. I have huge admiration for her.
“She put herself outside her comfort zone, she did it with tremendous good humour, she showed a side of herself that people weren’t aware was there and I think she came out of it a winner.
“I’m not watching it to laugh at her, I’m watching it to take inspiration that – OK, you’re not going to win it, but you can still come out of it with your head held high.”
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Should Kaye receive a similar reception to Ann her family – tennis coach partner Ian and daughters Charly, 20, and Bonnie, 15 – are unlikely to be in the live audience to see it.
She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be taking part, but my family – Ian and the girls – are my safe space. I wouldn’t want them feeling uncomfortable for me, or me hoping not to embarrass them.
“I’ll have to lose myself and try to be another character, transport myself to another mindset. I couldn’t do that if Ian and the kids were there, because then I’m Mum and partner. I’d much rather go home to them. I’ve got friends in the business and I’d love to have them there, but family is family and I like to keep the two separate.”
At 59, Kaye is this year’s oldest contestant and she is still shocked she agreed to take part.
When Strictly bosses contacted her a few months ago she did not take the offer very seriously. She said: “I thought it was a general trawl of people. I thought they’d sent it to every Adams in the phone book.”
Joking aside, there are two more Adams in this year’s line-up – footballer Tony and comedian Jayde.
Kaye is not optimistic about her chances. She said: “I’m the last person to dance at a wedding. I’m quite uptight, so I’m not sure how I’ll handle the sexy stuff.
“The thought of my own face contorting into a tango pout breaks me out in a cold sweat. I can’t even do a waltz.
“I don’t know if the highland fling is in there, I’m very good at that.
“Any Scottish country dancing would be good – I can do the dashing white sergeant and the gay gordons.”
Kaye admits her dry sense of humour, familiar to millions of fans of chat show Loose Women, is a coping mechanism.
“I’ve always been pretty cool on the outside or I laugh things off. I make jokes against myself.
“That’s the way I deal with things, but in my quiet moments I realise Strictly will to be really challenging for me, it’s incredibly exposing and I’m not good at that.”
The presenter and journalist, who also hosts her own daily news show on BBC Radio Scotland, has some tough competition from the likes of singer Fleur East, 34, ex-Coronation Street star Kym Marsh, 46, Countryfile presenter Helen Skelton, 39, and Bros legend Matt Goss, 53.
Kaye said: “Fleur East is really good and I imagine Matt Goss will be too.
“Some of the contestants have dancing experience.
“I’m fine with that – I’m never going to be able to compete with them.
“I don’t have any ambitions in terms of reaching Blackpool or Halloween week – there’s a high likelihood that I’ll be the week one exit – but I don’t want to be completely hopeless.”
Kaye has launched a podcast, How to be 60, to confront her fears of hitting the landmark birthday in December. And approaching that landmark age is one of the reasons she agreed to take part in Strictly.
She said: “I’m now embracing growing older. I don’t want to be one of those people in denial or who gets stuck and slightly bitter about changes.
“I think I will mark the day in a much more positive and grateful frame of mind than I might otherwise have done.
“I’ve always enjoyed watching Strictly and when they approached me, I thought, how am I going to feel when I’m sitting watching the launch show and I’m thinking, ‘I could have done that and I turned it down’?”
Viewers will have to wait until launch night to find out who Kaye will be paired with.
Four new pros will be joining for this series – Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley and Michelle Tsiakkas.
Kaye Adams: How to be 60 is on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
