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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Sam Elliott-Gibbs

Strictly pro dancers working seven day weeks for months to make show is a success

Gorka Marquez says he and the other Strictly Come Dancing pros work seven-day weeks to make sure the show is perfect.

But he says he suffers from terrible insomnia and often only gets two hours sleep every night.

The BBC show returns on September 17 and preparation is already well underway.

A pre-recorded launch show is being filmed this Wednesday as the celebrities are paired up with their professional dance partners.

Gorka, Nikita Kuzmin, Nancy Xu and Nadiya Bychkova have been sharing their gruelling schedules with OK! Magazine.

They've been spilling secrets before the new series kicks off ('OK! magazine)

Gorka has opened up about how tough life is and says dancers have to give their all during the months of filming.

Gemma Atkinson and Gorka welcomed their baby daughter Mia in July 2019 – but both struggled when Gorka left home to tour the UK with a dance show days after their little girl arrived.

He spoke about how demanding September until December is and said: "The pros don’t get a day off.

"Sunday is our resting day but then we have to choreograph and plan next week’s numbers.

Gorka danced brilliantly with Maisie Smith in 2020 - but always has issues sleeping (BBC/Guy Levy)

"I know that for the next five months I’ll never switch off, just when I sleep. And sometimes I only sleep for two hours as I can’t switch off."

Gorka, 31, Nikita, 24, Nancy, 31, and Nadiya, 33 are part of Strictly Come Dancing's biggest-ever line up with 20 pros competing this year.

They anxiously awaiting which of the 15 celebrities they’ll be partnered up with as they gear up for months of gruelling rehearsals with next to no sleep.

Nadiya then spoke about celeb's schedules and said: "Last year, Dan [Walker] was waking up at 3am and going to Manchester to do BBC Breakfast and then back to Sheffield to rehearse.

Gorka says pros work seven-day weeks to make sure the show is spot on (OK! Mag)

"We’d rehearse from 10am, have a break for lunch around 1pm, and I could see in his eyes he was going hungry, and he couldn’t rehearse longer than 6pm because he had to be in bed early.

"Our lives are totally tailored to their schedule. I remember being with EastEnders star Davood Ghadami and he’d be on set waiting for a scene and we’d rehearse in a small dressing room."

Gorka was asked to reveal a Strictly secret and said: "There’s a tradition every Saturday night where 50 pizzas arrive for everybody after the live show.

"Two years ago, there was one week where I was like 'it’s impossible to be in the dance-off with this dance' and I had half a pizza. One hour later I was in the dance-off!"

Last month the complete line-up was officially announced. Kym Marsh, Will Mellor and Helen Skelton will all take part, as well as James Bye and Tony Adams.

Joining them are Hamza Yassin, Fleur East, Molly Rainford, Ellie Taylor and Matt Goss. Also on the bill are Tyler West, Ellie Simmonds, Jayde Adams, Kaye Adams and Richie Anderson.

There's a big change to the pro line-up this year, with pro dancers Oti Mabuse and Aljaz Skorjanec having left the series. The BBC show announced that four new professionals would be joining the show.

European cup winner Vito Coppola , Chinese National Champion Carlos Gu , former Under 21 British National Champion Lauren Oakley and Latin dance champion Michelle Tsiakkas will all be taking to the stage.

Meanwhile, Bruno Tonioli announced in May that he was leaving the show after 18 years as a judge on the panel. He has been replaced by former pro and last year's judge Anton Du Beke.

To see all the exclusive pictures and watch video footage visit OK.co.uk or pick up a copy of OK! magazine

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