The presenter’s dance partner was forced to drop out unexpectedly (Picture: BBC)
Vogue Williams has opened up about her Strictly Come Dancing journey after taking part in the Christmas special, revealing what it was like when her partner had to drop out.
Just a few days ago, it was announced that comedian Chris McCausland had won the main BBC series with his partner Dianne Buswell in a finale hailed by fans as one of the best ever.
A mere 11 days after the grand finale, the festive edition of the show is airing on Christmas Day, with this year’s celebrity line-up including Vogue, comedian Josh Widdicome, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Tayce, EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey,
During a recent conversation with Metro, podcaster Vogue recalled what it was like when she unexpectedly had to swap her professional partner, when Carlos Gu sadly sustained an injury.
Gorka Márquez, who took part in the 2024 series with Morning Live star Dr Punam Krishan, was announced as his co-star’s replacement.
‘I was sad for Carlos, because he’d worked really hard. It was his dance. We’d done a lot of working together. We’d had a really nice time, and it was just really unfortunate for him,’ said Vogue, 39, when fondly remembering her time training with Carlos, 31.
Carlos sustained an ankle injury while training for the Christmas episode (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
‘But I always look at those things and I’m like, it’s just the way it is. There’s no point in getting really upset about it, because there’s absolutely nothing you can do to change it. So I just kind of did whatever they wanted me to.’
When Carlos’ withdrawal from the Strictly Christmas special was announced, a BBC spokesperson said: ‘Unfortunately, professional dancer, Carlos Gu, has sustained an ankle injury so is unable to participate in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special alongside contestant Vogue Williams. Fellow professional dancer, Gorka Márquez will be stepping in for him and dancing with Vogue. We all wish him a speedy recovery.’
The presenter explained that the show arranged for her to have a new partner ‘pretty quick’, hailing Gorka for being ‘great’ for stepping in.
‘He gave a lot of his time as well, which was great. So I got to have two amazing dancers, and I got to do a fun dance that I’ve always wanted to do, because I love the look of it. The whole thing just turned out really, really well. I’m so, so glad I did it,’ she added.
Gorka and his Strictly 2024 partner Dr Punam performed their Couple’s Choice routine to Bole Chudiyan from Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)
Vogue admitted that she found it ‘fascinating’ to learn how many people are ‘huge Strictly mega fans’ after she was announced in the Christmas line-up… with people at her son’s school asking her about her experience when they found out the news.
‘So it feels really cool to be a part of something that good,’ she shared.
The model couldn’t have spoken more highly of everyone who works on Strictly, emphasising that it’s ‘such a nice production to work for’.
‘They’re all so nice. They’re all best friends. Everyone’s so kind to each other. The dancers are really nice to everyone, and you just kind of feel really included in this Strictly bubble,’ she said.
While there might have been lovely vibes in the Strictly training room, the rehearsals were also extremely physical taxing… so much so that Vogue revealed her ‘body was in bits’ despite training regularly in the gym.
The BBC released a sneak peek of Vogue and Gorka’s festive Jive, with Neil seen in the routine too on the left hand side (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)
‘I think that made everyone think, “Oh, she trains, she goes to the gym. She’s able to dance.” I don’t know why or how people came up with that, but that’s what everyone decided,’ she stressed about the misconception.
Vogue revealed that she was ‘surprised’ by how sore her body felt from learning how to do the fast-paced Jive.
‘We were doing moves where I was lifting my legs the whole time, and then for a full week, I had to sit down on the ground to pull my trousers up,’ she admitted.
‘I couldn’t actually lift my leg to put it in my choices, and I haven’t had that pain in so long, because I’m just so used to training. So it was amazing how much your body adapts to it as well though.’
Despite previously competing on ITV’s dance competition Stepping Out in 2013 and on Dancing with the Stars in Australia the year before, Vogue insisted that she’s ‘just not good at dancing’.
Vogue has been married to former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews since 2018 and they have three children together (Picture: Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images)
‘I think being such a giant, it’s hard to get all the limbs moving at one time. It’s not like I haven’t tried to be a good dancer. I used to go to dance school when I was 12, I’d go on a Saturday, and I’d go do street, tap and jazz and I’d just be so rubbish,’ she recollected.
‘I haven’t enjoyed dancing for a long time, because I’ve always felt self conscious, even when I’m out. I don’t go to clubs or anything, but the thought of having to just stand there dancing… now I feel like I’ve got a bit of confidence to my bad dancing, and it improved slightly. If you don’t look at Gorka, I don’t look that bad.’
As for the rest of the Strictly Christmas special celebrity contestants, Vogue hailed them all for the ‘effort’ they put into their performances, saying that all of the routines ‘looked really fun and high energy and good craic’.
‘Harry was so lovely, such a nice guy. Josh Widdicombe is just absolutely hilarious. Tayce was incredible.Tamsin was a brilliant dancer. Billy’s such a nice guy. He’s constantly smiling, he reminds me of a teddy bear,’ she summarised.
‘I wouldn’t say myself or Josh are going to be breaking any dance records anytime soon, so we were kind of just chill. Every time we’d do a group dance, I just turned around to Josh and I’m like, “Did you mess something up there?” And he’d be like, “Yeah.” I’d be like, “Me too.” At least it wasn’t just me!’
The Strictly Christmas special will air on Christmas Day at 3.55pm on BBC One.
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