Nicola Roberts has talked frankly about her love/hate relationship with Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice. The Girls Aloud star has been paired with the Italian hunk for this year's Christmas episode of the popular BBC One programme.
The pair will be vying with five other couples for the Christmas glitterball in the festive edition of the show. Viewers will see them compete with Gavin And Stacey actor Larry Lamb and Nadiya Bychkova; Coronation Street star Alexandra Mardell and Kai Widdrington; Radio 1 DJ Rickie Haywood-Williams and Luba Mushtuk; podcaster Rosie Ramsey and Neil Jones; and CBeebies host George Webster and Amy Dowden.
During an appearance on The One Show, the red-haired singer described herself as a perfectionist and said Giovanni was one too. The Manchester Evening News reported how she talked honestly about the Latin dance champion's rigorous training regime and high standards in the run-up to the Strictly Christmas special.
Nicola said: "Gio is a great teacher - he's a perfectionist - as am I...." She continued: "The waltz is so technical and its so different to anything I've done before.
"I don't necessarily like the learning process because I lose concentration and Gio is very 'again, again, again.' But I was grateful because when I finally got to do the waltz I was prepared."
The 37-year-old Masked Singer winner went on: "I knew that I'd put the training in and I'd followed directions as much as I could. And as much as during the rehearsal process I might have wanted to strangle him, I was glad that when I left the ballroom I thought I had done a good job of the waltz."
When announced as taking part in the Strictly Christmas special, Nicola said: "It’s truly an honour to be part of Strictly, but to be invited on to the prestigious Christmas Day episode is something very special indeed. They’ve promised me extra glitter, sparkle and frosting, all wrapped up together with a big bow on top. What more could a girl wish for at Christmas?!"
During their time together, Nicola took to Instagram to share a video filmed by Giovanni of her singing during rehearsals. While the Italian dancer listened on in amazement as the former girl band star belted out Celine Dion classic 'All By Myself', Nicola joked alongside the post: "Pretty sure I should be warming up my body not my voice!!"
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