Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
Entertainment
Connie Evans, PA & Catherine Addison-Swan

Nicola Roberts admits 'beating herself up' over tough Strictly Christmas special dance

Nicola Roberts has opened up about her experience on Strictly Come Dancing days before viewers are set to see her efforts in a festive edition of the BBC show.

The Girls Aloud star has been partnered with pro Giovanni Pernice and will take to the dancefloor for this year's Strictly Christmas special, which is set to air on Christmas Day. EastEnders icon Larry Lamb, CBeebies presenter George Webster, Coronation Street actress Alexandra Mardell, DJ Rickie Haywood-Williams, and Tyneside's own Rosie Ramsey will also be putting their dance shoes on for the yuletide special.

Nicola's former bandmates Cheryl, Kimberley Walsh and Nadine Coyle reunited to cheer Nicola on from the audience when the special was filmed earlier this month. And while the 37-year-old singer said that she had had a "great time" dancing, she admitted that she had struggled to perfect her routine.

READ MORE: Strictly's Gorka Marquez shares sweet family update after final defeat and tour 'split'

"My process is quite slow," Nicola shared. "When you’re in a band you have weeks to perfect a two hour show, so there’ll be certain numbers that you pick up quickly or the numbers that might take a good couple of weeks to really sink in, and that’s my process, that’s how I’ve learned over the years.

"Obviously, with Strictly you don’t have the luxury of having time," she added. "It wasn’t until after the fourth session that I felt like we were in a good space."

Nicola admitted that she had been quite tough on herself when it came to the festive special. "Before that I was beating myself up and not understanding the routine, not grasping the technical aspects, and the position is still not there every time and it’s a lot to think about," she said.

"So it’s been very fast, but I like to be professional and I like to do a good job, and I’ve had a great time!"

Nicola also opened up about her time as one fifth of one of the most iconic pop groups as she compared her Strictly stint to her experience in Girls Aloud. "I spent a long time in a girl band where I was girl band-ified for a long time, and then you step out of that world and you learn how to be you without of all of that," she said.

"And now I’m back in the machine just for a couple of weeks where I’m being plied with glitter and sequined dresses and dressed as Santa’s helper, and I said I wanted fun and it has been fun."

Speaking of her fellow Christmas special contestants, Nicola said: "I haven’t seen anyone else’s dances but I think we’re all coming at it from different backgrounds. It’s very hard to be competitive for a show like this, especially when everyone’s so lovely, and it’s the Christmas special and it’s a bit of fun."

But her partner Giovanni disagreed. "I’m feeling competitive, I want to win!" he said. "There are a lot of good dancers as well, and it’s going to be fun!"

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.