Strictly Come Dancing dazzled its way back to screens last weekend for the first episode of the 20th series, and the competition is now firmly underway.
BBC spin-off show It Takes Two returned this week, with celebrities and dancers sharing some behind-the-scenes secrets and opening up on their biggest fears. Tuesday’s episode saw Olympian Sam Quek, 35, making a rehearsals admission.
Former hockey player Quek made her dance floor debut alongside dancer Nikita Kuzmin, 26. The two performed a Foxtrot on Saturday night, and appearing on the show’s spin-off programme, Quek confessed she “has to be careful”.
It Takes Two host Fleur East chatted to the two about how their first dance of the series went before turning to Quek and probing into her competitive nature.
“What I want to know, Sam, is that you’re a gold medal-winning Olympic hockey player…” she began, to which Kuzmin responded by cheering and yelling: “Hell yes.”
“How does that background impact your whole experience here at Strictly?” East continued.
“Um, well I’m competitive, I am competitive,” Quek replied. “And I have to be careful at times, don’t I? Because I do get frustrated that it’s not clicking as quickly as it should.
“Because I just want to get it right, I want to learn, I want to move on to the next step.”
Turning to her dance partner, she continued: “So I think it’s helpful but it can also be a bit of a detriment and that’s where you come in and you tell me, ‘Sam, just chill.'”
Host East went on to announce the couple would be dancing the Charleston next week as she commented:” Now, this is a specialist dance, so Nikita, you’ve got Jenny Thomas who’s been helping you in training. How’s it going?”
“Really good,” the Celebrity Big Brother winner responded before adding: “I need to admit, it’s quite a hard choreography and I came in today and I’m just trying to push it even more.
“At the same time, I really want to challenge Sam. I really want to challenge her because Sam said to me the one dance she’s most afraid of is the Charleston.”
“Before he told me we were doing the Charleston!” Quek added as Kuzmin went on: “But listen, it’s a challenge and the choreography’s challenging, but you’re doing so, so well.”
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Attempting to reassure a worried-looking Quek, he added: “One step at a time – we will get there and I’m sure by Saturday night…”
However, he was interrupted by East, who pointed out the Olympian’s nervous expression.
She concluded: “Can’t wait to see it, don’t look so scared – you’re going to be amazing!”
“There’s hockey in it, can we give that away? Can we say that?” Quek commented as East joked: “Exclusive!”
