Radio 1 DJ Rickie Haywood-Williams says he wanted to quit the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special because he is a terrible dancer.
The Live Lounge presenter, 42, who has been partnered with Luba Mushtuk, 33, said: “After I watched back our first rehearsal, I was like, ‘how can I get out of this? Is it too late to quit?’.”
He said he was inspired to take part by radio sidekick Melvin Odoom, who won the festive special in 2016.
Rickie said: “Melvin is a really good dancer and I’m not as good a dancer as him so maybe it’s not for me.
“But then, when they asked me, because it’s such a big show, I had to go for it. You can’t turn it down.”
He and Luba dance a salsa with him dressed as a nutcracker doll.
Luba said: “The theme is, we are in a shop and I’m selling Christmas presents and he’s one of the presents who is a beautiful nutcracker, the most expensive present in my shop. And then the music starts and he just can’t stop himself, he comes alive.”
Rickie said despite his lack of talent, he still wants to come first in the Christmas Day special on BBC One.
“I’m a terrible dancer but it’s still a competition, so I can’t help deep down but think that I’d like to win,” he said.
Rickie praised Luba for being very patient with him, saying: “I can tell when she’s getting frustrated, but it just makes me laugh. It takes me forever to learn really simple steps.
“When she was first showing me the steps, I was like a robot that needed oil.”
Now he plans to improve further in the New Year with more salsa classes.
Luba said that had made her day, adding: “My job here is done! Wow, wow, wow. For me, I want to keep making people fall in love with dancing.
“The progress from beginning to now is massive, they all look amazing – we just want to bring more joy to Christmas Day in people’s homes.”
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, 5.10pm Christmas Day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
