How are you feeling about being a part of this year’s Strictly Christmas special? What made you want to take part?
Dan: I love dancing, but I’m terrible at dancing. It’s been a lifetime ambition to learn how to dance and if you’re given the privilege of going on one of the biggest shows on British TV to get one-on-one training from a phenomenal coach, then I thought it would be so fun. It’s a huge privilege to work on the biggest show on the BBC, it felt like a really special thing to do this Christmas.
What can you tell us about your dance?
Nadiya: It’s the Jive! We’ve had so much fun making it, the rehearsals are now all done, so we want to go out there and just perform it for everyone to see that we’re having fun. I love that at Christmas, you can put whatever you want in the choreography, so for me it’s the lifts, everything fun is in there. It’s a more relaxed approach, and Dan is really fun to work with and to teach. Dan is so focussed, I didn’t expect him to be so into it, and I love it. I think he rehearses in his sleep, so I am a proud teacher.
What are you looking forward to most about it?
Dan: For me its showing family, friends and fans what we’ve been working on together, I want to show people what you can do when you stretch yourself, and do things you never thought were possible. I want to get through it, have fun and with a big smile on my face and celebrate the last two weeks of such a fun experience.
My family are incredibly excited. They’re young enough to be genuinely excited and not old enough to be embarrassed, so they are thrilled and so excited, but they’re old enough to go… ‘does Nadiya mind she’s dancing with some old man like you?’ so it’s a nice balanced approach from my kids. And my nephew and niece are coming for Christmas, and they don’t know that I’m on it and they are mad Strictly fans, so we’re going to turn it on, on Christmas day, and they’re going to think ‘oh cool its Strictly’ and then see uncle Dan and totally freak out.
Have you got any previous dancing experience?
Dan: Dancing to Mr Brightside at weddings – so no.
Do you think you’re naturally a good dancer?
Dan: No, I was an athlete, but I wasn’t a super co-ordinated one, but I was fit, and I take coaching well, but I’m not a naturally gifted dancer
What is your signature dance move at the Christmas party?
Dan: A dad pretending to do breakdancing, then halfway through bottling it, and attempting to laugh it off.
Tell us about your partner – how are you finding training?
Dan: I used to think that I was quite fit, I like taking the kids up mountains, and after the first session with Nadiya, I got into the car, and I almost had to pull over at the side of the road because I thought I was going to pass out. It’s been so intense, my head and my legs, and my whole body was aching. I feel mentally as healthy and happy as I have been for a long time, dancing is really good for you, and I strongly recommend everyone get out there and start dancing.
Nadiya: Dan has got on really well. He takes note, and when I threw something new at him it meant he took a few steps back, and it can feel like when we finish rehearsal it’s not quite there, but then he comes back the next day and is like ‘I slept on it and I understand it better now’ and he’s much better. And that’s happened in every session. We have more time to learn one dance than in the main show, so when I was putting the dance together, our first rehearsal was scheduled for eight hours – but it’s the jive, so I was sure Dan’s brain was going to explode, so we decided to do less because I could see Dan was getting tired. It’s so many steps and little details, but it’s fun, we’ve had such a beautiful vibe, and the energy in the room has been great and we’ve really enjoyed it.
Dan: Everyone knows Nadiya as the famous super beautiful, famous dancer, but what I’ve learnt, is in fact, the real Nadiya is a teacher. I’ve been really privileged to have the best coaching.
Nadiya: I enjoyed teaching Dan, because he is very focused and understands the mechanics and does a lot of homework. He’s the perfect student.
Talk us through your outfit…
Nadiya: I’m baking a lovely gingerbread man, then he becomes a full-sized man!
Which judge are you hoping to impress the most?
Dan: Motsi. She is discerning, she’s been there and I just admire her judging. She’s generous and she’s fair and I’ll be pleased if she says our dance is good.
Do you think you will be taking home the top prize this year?
Dan: No, I think I will have great fun, but I’m sure the odd foot will be out of place and the body alignment will be wrong.
What do you love most about Christmas?
Dan: My favourite thing is that everything goes quiet on your phones at Christmas, so you can just be present with your family and that’s the thing I really love now. Being together, and the outside world just blurs away.
What is the best present you have ever received?
Dan: My daughter Orla, born on the 17th of December, she came home from hospital almost on Christmas, and she was a bundle of joy and still is today.
What’s the worst Christmas present you’ve ever received? Can you tell us who it was from?
Dan: Last year I got a pair of socks, some gardening gloves and….some super glue. All from my family. Welcome to your forties!
Do you have a Christmas tradition?
Dan: We have a family tradition which I love…we live right near the sea so we try and jump in the sea on Christmas morning, no wet suit! We run in and run out.
Nadiya: Now I have my daughter we build all the Christmas tradition around her. In Ukraine, we celebrate Christmas very differently, for us the big holiday is New Years. But when you have a child, you create new traditions, it’s all about family and food and making sure we put out the biscuits and milk for Santa, getting the presents opened in the morning and making sure we’re all having a lovely time. We watch Christmas films in the morning, eat loads of food and then watching Strictly! I’ll be waving from the TV into the living room.
Will you be making a New Year resolution?
Dan: Yes – Keep Dancing!
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day at 4.40pm
