BBC Strictly's Nicola Roberts' brutal response to working with Giovanni Pernice on Christmas special

21.12.2022 - 17:55 / dailyrecord.co.uk

Girls Aloud's Nicola Roberts certainly wasn't shy during her interview on BBC The One Show on Tuesday night when she was asked about her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.

The singer has been partnered with Giovanni Pernice and she is no stranger to a reality TV competition after previously being crowned the winner of ITV's The Masked Singer UK.

Nicola will take to the famous BBC ballroom on Christmas Day alongside Gavin and Stacey's Larry Lamb and Nadiya Bychkova; soap actress Alexandra Mardell and Kai Widdrington; Radio 1 DJ Rickie Haywood-Williams and Luba Mushtuk; podcaster Rosie Ramsey who will be partnered with Neil Jones; and CBeebies presenter George Webster and Amy Dowden.

Giovanni lifted the Strictly 2021 glitterball trophy alongside Rose Ayling-Ellis, and Nicola said: "Gio is a great teacher - he's a perfectionist - as am I..." writes Manchester Evening News.

"The waltz is so technical and it's so different to anything I've done before. I don't necessarily like the learning process because I loose concentration and Gio is very 'again, again, again.' But I was grateful because when I finally got to do the waltz I was prepared.

"I knew that I'd put the training in and I'd followed directions as much as I could. And as much as during the rehearsal process I might have wanted to strangle him, I was glad that when I left the ballroom I thought I had done a good job of the waltz.

"It’s truly an honour to be part of Strictly, but to be invited on to the prestigious Christmas Day episode is something very special indeed.

"They’ve promised me extra glitter, sparkle and frosting, all wrapped up together with a big bow on top. What more could a girl wish for at Christmas?!"

Strictly Come Dancing 2022 came to