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Strictly Come Dancing star Sara Davies has admitted she was fearful of showing her ‘mum tum’ in the show’s sparkly ensembles.
The Dragon’s Den star, 37, confessed she had to battle nerves when she headed for her first costume fitting ahead of the launch, but was soon reassured her outfits would have ‘lots of ruching.’
Sara, who said she’s been told she’ll ‘love’ being on the show by her co-star and former contestant Deborah Meaden, added that she’s been inspired to take part by her beloved father, despite the fact he’s ‘not that optimistic’ about her dance skills.
Strictlified! Strictly Come Dancing star Sara Davies has admitted she was fearful of showing her ‘mum tum’ in the show’s sparkly ensembles
Sara told MailOnline: ‘The hair makeup and wardrobe teams, it’s the privilege of getting to work with the best teams in the world on this stuff.
‘I’ve just spent the first half an hour with the wardrobe team, I was a bit worried about my mum tum, and they said ”don’t worry about it” and then put loads of ruching here.’
Detailing how she’s been preparing for the new series, Sara explained that’s she been having regular physiotherapy sessions after discovering an unexpected running injury.
Worries: The Dragon’s Den star confessed she had to battle nerves when she headed for her first costume fitting ahead of the launch
But despite regularly being seen in her smart dresses and stilettos on the BBC show, Sara insisted it’s going to be a challenge learning to dance in heels.
She explained: ‘On Dragons, we walk around in our slippers all day and then the shoes are put on set, and then we walk onto the set and put our shoes on.
‘As soon as we stop filming we take the shoes off and put the slippers back. As long as they look good I’ll take that.
‘I did say I’ve been running a lot, I’ve been trying to get my fitness levels up, and everybody says you won’t know what’s hit you,.
‘I’m really excited about getting into the training I’m also excited about learning to dance, I did ballet as a seven or eight-year-old, but to learn that as a skill… everyone I’ve spoken to has said learning it is fabulous.’
TV star: Sara (pictured second left with Dragon’s Den co-stars) said she’s been told she’ll ‘love’ being on the show by her co-star and former contestant Deborah Meaden (centre)
Sara, who has two children with her husband Simon, admitted that they haven’t shared as much excitement about her upcoming Strictly stint as she’d hoped.
She said: ‘My two boys are four and seven, and I don’t think they get it, I’ve shown them a little of the show, when I went on Dragons Den and they were mortally disappointed. ‘They watched it and said ”mummy you don’t really look like a dragon and that’s not a den!”’
Revealing her own father’s experience with dancing, she told MailOnline: ‘My dad whose 70 now, used to ameteur do dancing, he did it until he was 16.
‘You see loads of young girls doing it, and he said ”’yeah I thought it might be a good way to pick up girls’.” He’s even danced at Blackpool before.
‘Every since Strictly has been on we’ve got together on a Saturday night to watch it. He’s so into the specifics of the dancing.
‘He was in shock when I told him, he’s really excited, I’m just want to do it for him to make him proud.’
Challenges: Detailing how she’s been preparing for the new series, Sara explained that’s she been having regular physiotherapy sessions after discovering an unexpected running injury
This year’s Strictly will see 15 celebrities take to the dancefloor with their professional partners, with the pairings set to be revealed in Saturday’s launch show.
Stars including actor Greg, comedian Judi Love, singer Tom Fletcher and presenter AJ Odudu will take to the dancefloor in their sequins in the hope of impressing the judging panel.
Despite the easing of Covid restrictions across the UK, bosses have confirmed that many of last year’s protocols will continue for this series, including couples forming Covid-safe ‘bubbles’ so they can train and perform safely.
The show will also see the return of a live audience, after most of the 2020 series was plagued by England’s ongoing lockdowns.
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday 18th September on BBC One.
Back soon: Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday 18th September on BBC One
STRICTLY COME DANCING 2021: WHO ARE THE CONTESTANTS?
TOM FLETCHER
Age: 36
Profession: McFly musician
Tom says: ‘I’m so pleased the news is out it’s been so hard keeping it secret. Equal parts excited and terrified.’
Fun fact: Tom’s McFly bandmate Harry Judd won Strictly Come Dancing in 2011. Tom’s wife Giovanna Fletcher is the reigning champion of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
ROBERT WEBB
Age: 48
Profession: Actor and comedian
Robert says: ‘It’s very exciting but with a slight undertone of quivering terror.’
Fun Fact: Robert squeezed into a shiny leotard to take the title of Let’s Dance For Comic Relief in 2009, performing What A Feeling from ’80s film Flashdance, beating the likes of Keith Lemon and Paddy McGuinness to the title.
RHYS STEPHENSON
Age: 27
Profession: CBBC presenter
Rhys says: ‘I have dreamt about being on this show, and I know for a fact that it is going to exceed every expectation’
Fun fact: Rhys has been an actor since the age of ten, performing alongside Matt Smith and Hugh Bonneville.
KATIE MCGLYNN
Age: 28
Profession: Actress
Katie says: ‘I’m really not a dancer, but I’m so excited to learn a new skill on this crazy journey and cannot wait to slip into some sequins along the way.’
Fun fact: Katie, who played Sinead Tinker in Corrie, won a NTA for Best Serial Drama Performance in 2020.
TILLY RAMSAY
Age: 19
Profession: CBBC presenter
Tilly says: ’I’m going to put my heart and soul into this and can’t wait to get my dancing shoes on!’
Fun fact: Tilly’s father is celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and the pair often star in dancing TikTok videos.
NINA WADIA
Age: 52
Profession: Actress
Nina says: ‘I think I should do this before I’m too old and can’t walk anymore. I just want to grab life by the horns and just enjoy it.’
Fun fact: Nina is a JDRF Ambassador and was awarded an OBE in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List.
ADAM PEATY
Age: 26
Profession: Athlete
Adam says: ‘I’m really looking forward to doing something totally different and challenging myself away from the pool.’
Fun fact: Adam becoming the first British swimmer to defend an Olympic title at Tokyo 2020.
UGO MONYE
Age: 38
Profession: Rugby player and sports pundit
Ugo says: ‘What a dream come true! Strictly is the biggest entertainment show on TV and I can’t wait to show everyone I’ve got more than just dad dancing moves.
Fun fact: Beginning his rugby career at Harlequins in 2002, Ugo went on to make 241 appearances for the club where he scored 89 tries, won a Premiership and made his England debut in 2008.
AJ ODUDU
Age: 33
Profession: TV presenter
AJ says: ‘I think it’s going to be really challenging. I can’t wait for the sequins, the wigs, the glitz and the glamour.’
Fun Fact: Apocalypse Wow hosts AJ has featured on a whopping 14 TV shows this year, competing in the likes oF Cooking With The Stars and Celebrity Karaoke Club. She has appeared as a panelist on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two in the past, too.
JOHN WHAITE
Age: 33
Profession: Great British Bake Off Winner and TV chef
John says: ‘I’m so grateful, excited, and nervous to be joining the Strictly 2021 family… I’ve been wearing sequins and jazzy attire since I was three years old and can’t wait to hurl myself, full throttle, around the most glamorous dance floor on earth’
Fun Fact: John is set tp be part of the first ever all-male partnering – the first in 17 years of the show.
SARA DAVIES
Age: 37
Profession: Businesswoman
Sara says: ‘I’m really nervous because so far the producers keep asking me if I can dance… Truth be told – I haven’t got a clue! I’ve not danced since I did ballet lessons when I was little.’
Fun fact: Sara was the youngest ever dragon on BBC show Dragons’ Den.
DAN WALKER
Age: 44
Profession: Journalist
Dan says: ‘I’m enjoying the experience when it starts of learning to dance. I’ll be honest I’m not making room on any shelves in my house for the glitterball.’
Fun fact: Dan recently quit Football Focus after 12 years at the helm and has been covering Tokyo Olympics.
GREG WISE
Age: 55
Profession: Actor
Greg says: ‘It’s about being out there and exposing yourself as someone who can’t dance, and learning.’
Fun fact: Greg is married to the actress Emma Thompson who he met while filming Sense and Sensibility.
ROSE AYLING-ELLIS
Age: 30
Profession: Actress
Rose says: ‘I hope I will do the deaf community proud and break down more barriers. I am also very excited to learn an incredible new skill.’
Fun fact: Rose will make history as Strictly’s first deaf contestant.
JUDI LOVE
Age: 41
Profession: Comedienne
Judi says: ‘I’m truly looking forward to pushing myself in something that I could have only dreamed of doing and now it’s actually coming true!’
Fun fact: Judi began comedy when she performed a set in front of her class for a degree module.
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