A Strictly Come Dancing contender from Bristol says her beloved sister will be rooting for her beyond the grave. Comedian Jayde Adams is taking on the popular TV dance competition next month.
Sadly her sister Jenna, who she danced with at childhood contests, died of a brain tumour 11 years ago. She was aged just 28 and had been studying contemporary dance at university.
Jayde said: "I think my sister’s definitely orchestrating things for me. It all feels so serendipitous."
READ MORE: Stars including Harry Styles and Adele face off at 2022 MTV Video Music Awards
The sisters took part in contests in their schooldays but Jayde admits she was better at being funny than doing disco moves. She said her sister was a really good dancer and that gave her ease on stage useful for being a stand-up comedian.
Tragedy struck the Bristol family in 2005 when Jenna had a seizure and was diagnosed with a brain tumour. At the time Jayde was in her second year of a drama degree at Glamorgan University, The Mirror reports.
She says her sister inspired her to become a comic as she battled her illness, telling her: “Can you start making everyone laugh? They’re all looking at me like I’m about to die and it’s doing my nut in.”
The loss of Jenna spurred Jayde to write her award-winning debut stand-up show which included a performance of her take on the evolution of dance. She said: “There are videos on YouTube if you can hunt them out.
"It was all silent and I just moved my body. I had stage presence, it was just the jokes I needed.”
In 2014 Jayde won the Funny Women award and in 2016 she was a nominee for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. She has since been a panellist on Channel 4 ’s comedy quiz shows 8 Out of 10 Cats and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
Now she’s looking forward to her Strictly debut along with singer Matt Goss, former Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh and Hollyoaks star Will Mellor.
Sign up for our What's On in Bristol newsletter packed with essential stories to help you make the most of living in the city.
READ NEXT
