Former Strictly favourite Kevin Clifton says training for ITV show The Games has made him fitter than ever.
Given the nickname “Kevin from Grimsby” by Sir Bruce Forsyth, the star started preparing for the show by working with a personal trainer after Christmas.
“I think I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been in – even including dancing,” he said. “People keep saying ‘oh you’re a dancer, you’ll be brilliant’ but I’m not sure how the paso doble translates to any of this.”
Twelve stars will be taking part in 10 events including diving, hurdles, cycling, swimming and gymnastics, all on live television.
But, Kevin, 39, admits he has had some issues.
“The cycling is a real problem for me,” he confessed. “I had a BMX when I was a young boy, I was on that all the time but never had an adult bike and dancing just took over.”
He said he needed plenty of help from the cycling coaches to get going during training in the Olympic velodrome in Stratford, East London. “They say it’s just like riding a bike but – I’ve disproved the theory,” he laughed.
His TV presenter girlfriend Stacey Dooley, 35, finds the idea of him doing diving, Tom Daley-style, most amusing.
“She thinks it’s hilarious that at one point the camera is going to go past and I’m going to be stood there in my Speedos,” said Kevin “I haven’t thus far stuffed them.”
He said that since leaving the BBC ballroom series he’d been offered many reality shows, but this was the one that most excited him. “MasterChef might be easier but I can’t cook either,” he laughed.
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“I’m turning 40 this year and feel like I want to do things that are out of my comfort zone. It may be a midlife crisis but I’ve got to show these young ’uns how it’s done.”
He’s hoping that he can come away from the ITV sports competition unscathed, and hasn’t ruled out a return to Strictly Come Dancing in the future. Asked if he’d consider becoming a judge, he said: “I’d love that actually, I think that would be great – if I can get round once on a bike without ending my career.”
Hosted by Holly Willoughby and Freddie Flintoff, The Games will also see Alex Scott as trackside reporter and Chris Kamara as commentator.
Holly said she was looking forward to the show which airs every night next week.
“I love live telly,” she gushed. Any other TV that I make that isn’t live just doesn’t have that excitement. It doesn’t always go right. What could possibly go wrong?”
- The Games, will be on ITV, Monday, May 9 to Friday, May 13 at 9pm.
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