Strictly Come Dancing contestants are known for their busy rehearsal schedules often squeezing in day jobs and family life around filming.
But this year's Glitter Ball hopeful Tyler West is packing things in to the extreme as he jets off to Mauritius for his brother's wedding — spending around NINE hours in the idyllic island before heading back to Blighty.
The 26-year-old radio DJ is taking part in the BBC One programme with Strictly professional Dianne Buswell.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, West explained his flying visit, saying: “I think I’ve put my body through the paces and then I thought, Lewis, my brother, I’m the best man for his wedding, so I’m flying to Mauritius for, I think, about nine hours.”
He jokingly quipped: “So, yeah, I kept the schedule light this year!”
The Strictly star has also honoured his existing commitment taking part in the London Marathon on Sunday.
With Buswell, 33, cheering him on from the sidelines, he completed the road race in aid of national youth work charity UK Youth, which works to provide opportunities to young people in the UK.
Telling Breakfast presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty about getting back to Strictly rehearsals while trying to recover from the marathon, West said: “I don’t have the methods or the strategy to it, I just did it.
“I just firmed it, absolutely woke up and firmed it.
“My body has been a bit of a slow one this week, I’ve obviously had to have time to recover and just be smart with how we’re training and stuff.
“But I’ll tell you what – once-in-a-lifetime experience, just a crazy weekend.”
Viewers enjoyed watching Tyler and Diane score a respectable 31 and a standing ovation no-less from head judge Shirley Ballas for their theatrical routine dancing the jive to Hit The Road Jack by Buster Poindexter.
The so called 'Queen of Latin', told him: “You’re the real deal. You bring something you can’t teach.
“You’ve got an attitude, you’ve got a soul… I flippin’ loved it.”
Pro dancer Buswell told how she was initially concerned about Tyler's post marathon recovery.
She admitted: “The first few days I was slightly worried.
“I thought, ‘oh my goodness we are doing a Charleston’, which is one of the fastest dancers and one of the most energetic dancers, and obviously Tyler was feeling quite sore and quite sorry for himself.
“But I must say he has given his all this week and despite feeling a little bit under the weather we could say, he’s really pulled through and I couldn’t be prouder of him.”
Dianne and Tyler will join fellow Strictly stars for the Saturday night show for Movie Week on BBC1 at 6.30pm.
